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Enrollment Periods

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Initial Enrollment Period

When you first become eligible for Medicare, you can join during the 7-month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.

If you get Medicare due to a disability, you can join during the 7-month period that begins 3 months before your 25th month of disability and ends 3 months after your 25th month of disability.

Annual Enrollment Period:

Between October 15 and December 7, anyone can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan. This open enrollment period has changed to give you more time to choose and join a plan. Your coverage will begin on January 1, as long as the plan gets your request by December 7.

Making changes to your coverage after December 7
Between January 1 and February 14, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare. If you switch to Original Medicare during this period, you will have until February 14 to also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form.

During this period, you can’t do the following:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug plan to another
• Join, switch or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account plan

Special Enrollment Periods (SEP)
In most cases, you must stay enrolled for the calendar year starting the date your coverage begins. However, in certain situations, you may be able to join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan during a special enrollment period. Contact your plan if any of these situations apply to you:

• You move out of your plan’s service area
• You have Medicaid
• You qualify for Extra Help
• You live in an institution, such as a nursing home

Refer to the Medicare and You Handbook for more information on all of the following information.

SEP Trial Rights
SEP Trial Rights are available for people who have joined a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan for the first time. They can drop their MA plan and enroll in Original Medicare anytime within the first 12 months of their Medicare Advantage plan coverage. People are eligible for this trial right if they either:

• Joined an MA plan when first eligible for Medicare at age 65, or
• Were in Original Medicare, enrolled in a MA plan for the first time and dropped a Medigap policy.

The trial right allows them to disenroll from the MA plan during the first 12 months to join Original Medicare. They also have a guaranteed issue opportunity to purchase a Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) policy.