Medicare Enrollment

To receive Medicare benefits, you must enroll when you become eligible during the Medicare Enrollment Periods. There are different Medicare enrollment periods and they allow new enrollees to register while existing beneficiaries can switch or review their Medicare plans.

The General Enrollment Period is the next enrollment period. During this period, people who missed the Initial Enrollment Period can register for Medicare. The General Enrollment Period starts on January 1 and ends on March 31. Medicare coverage will then become active on July 1.

During the Annual Enrollment Period, you can make changes to Medicare plans. You can move to a Medicare Advantage plan from Original Medicare or vice versa, switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, enroll or switch Part D plans, or drop a plan. The Annual Enrollment Period starts on October 15 and ends on December 7. The changes become active on January 1 of the next year.

The Special Enrollment period allows people to sign up for Medicare or choose a new Medicare Advantage plan or plan provider depending on some special circumstances. For example, if you move outside the service area or your plan provider stops the plan, then you may be qualified for a Special Enrollment Period.

There are other enrollment periods, such as the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. This six-month period begins once you are 65 years old and enrolled in both Parts A and B. During this period, you can enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan without being denied because of your medical history. Insurers will also not increase premiums because of your medical history. However, if you miss this period, insurers have the right to deny you coverage, charge more for premiums, and ask you questions about your medical history.

For all your Medicare enrollment questions, reach out to us today!