Medicare Advantage Enrollment Periods

There are five set times a year that you can enroll in Medicare Advantage or change existing Medicare plans:

 

 

1. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

 

The first time an eligible person can enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and continues through the three months following your 65th birthday.

 

 

 

2. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) January 1 - March 31 

 

The OEP allows beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan to make a one-time change to:

 

•Switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan

•Discontinue Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B)

•Sign up for a stand-alone MAPD Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan, if an individual elects to return to an Original Medicare plan

 

The OEP is only accessible for current Medicare Advantage policyholders.

 

 

 

 

3. General Enrolment Period (GEP) January 1 - March 31 

 

The GEP allows individuals who didn’t sign up for Original Medicare (Parts A and B) when they were first eligible an opportunity to enroll, but they may be subject to a late enrollment penalty for not enrolling when first eligible. 

Coverage will not start until July 1 of that year.

 

 

 

4. Annual Enrolment Period  (AEP) October 15 - December 7

 

The AEP allows Medicare recipients to enroll in or change Medicare Advantage coverage plans.

During AEP, you can:

•Switch from Medicare Parts A and B (Original Medicare) to Medicare Advantage Part C

•Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another

•Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug plan (Part D) to another MAPD

•Add a Medicare Part D -MAPD plan if you didn’t enroll when first eligible

 

 

 

 

5. Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

 

Qualifying events may grant you eligibility to enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), enroll in and change Medicare Advantage coverage (Part C and/or Part D) 

 

You are qualified for a SEP if you are:

•Moving to a new location where new plan options are available

•Losing group employer coverage

•Diagnosed with a qualifying chronic condition, such as diabetes or chronic heart failure

•Moving in or out of a long term care hospital or a skilled nursing facility