Medicare Eligibility

MEDICARE INITIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD

Medicare Open Enrollment

What is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

The Medicare Fall Open Enrollment (OEP) season, also called the Annual Election Period. The Open Enrollment Period lasts 8 weeks every fall, during which Medicare beneficiaries can enroll, change, or cancel their Medicare Advantage and / or Part D drug plans.

• Medicare lets you have an election period each year to change your plan if you don’t like the changes to your existing coverage.
• Medicare Part D benefits change every year, so the election period allows you to change your plan as benefit changes.
• You do not need to change your plan if you like your plan. The majority of beneficiaries do not make changes to their plan each year.

When is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

Your initial enrollment period begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after your 65th birthday month. 

• There is one exception: if your birthday is on the first of the month, which result in your personal enrollment period to begin one month early.
• Example: if your birthday is October 1, your enrollment period will begin June 1 and your Medicare will begin one month early as well — September 1. 

How do I know if I need to make changes to my plan?

• Your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D Insurance plan provider will send you a document in September called the Annual Notice of Change.
• The Annual Notice of Change lists the plan’s changes side-by-side for each specific year, allowing you to compare any changes to coverage.

What changes can I make during Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

• You do not do anything and your current Medicare coverage remains the same.
• Enroll in, leave or change your Medicare Part D drug plan
• Switch from Traditional Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan to a different Medicare Advantage Plan