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Medicare Enrollment Periods

Medicare Advantage
Open Enrollment Period

(January 1 through March 31)

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is from January 1 through March 31. During this period, you can make one change to how you receive your Medicare benefits (for example, by changing from one plan to another or by returning to Original Medicare).

Part B Enrollment

If you have Medicare Part A but did not enroll in Medicare Part B, the Part B General Enrollment Period is from January 1 through March 31. Your coverage starts the month after you sign up.

Other enrollment periods include:

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period

(Between October 15 and December 7)

From October 15 to December 7, individuals with Medicare have the opportunity to change their Medicare health plan and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year.

Initial Enrollment Period

(For individuals new to Medicare)

If you are turning 65 and becoming eligible for Medicare, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan:

  • Up to 3 months before the month of your birthday, with coverage beginning the first day of your birth month
  • The month of your birthday, with coverage beginning the first day of the following month
  • Up to 3 months after the month of your birthday, with coverage beginning the first day of the month following your enrollment

Special Enrollment Period for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans

(For people with qualifying chronic conditions)

This one-time period applies if you have a severe or disabling condition and live in a service area where there’s a chronic condition special needs plan that serves people with that condition.

Special Enrollment Period for Dual-Eligibles

(For people with Medicare and Medicaid)

This period applies if:

  • You had a change in your Medicaid (newly got Medicaid, had a change in level of Medicaid assistance or lost Medicaid)

Other ways you may qualify for an enrollment period include:

 

  • You had a change in your Extra Help (newly got Extra Help, had a change in level of Extra Help or lost Extra Help)
  • You recently moved outside of the service area for your current plan or you recently moved and this plan is a new option for you.
  • You are moving into, live in or recently moved out of a long-term care facility (for example, a nursing home or long-term care facility).
  • You were enrolled in a special needs plan, but you have lost the special needs qualification required to be in that plan.
  • You recently left a PACE program.

  • You involuntarily lost your creditable prescription drug coverage (coverage as good as Medicare’s), or your other coverage changed and is no longer credible.
  • You are leaving your employer or union coverage (including COBRA coverage).
  • You are enrolled in a pharmacy assistance program provided by your state, or you’re enrolled but you lost eligibility.
  • Your plan is ending its contract with Medicare, or Medicare is ending its contract with your plan.
  • You were recently released from incarceration.

  • You recently returned to the United States after living permanently outside of the U.S.
  • You recently obtained lawful presence status in the United States.
  • You were enrolled in a plan by Medicare (or the state), and you want to choose a different plan.
  • You want to join a plan with a five-star quality rating.
  • You were affected by a weather-related emergency or major disaster (as declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)).

  • You are in a plan that was recently taken over by the state because of financial issues, and you want to switch to another plan.
  • You’re in a plan that had a star rating less than 3 stars for the last 3 years.
  • You are new to Medicare, and Medicare entitlement was made retroactively/you were notified about getting Medicare after your Part A and/or Part B effective date.

Questions about enrollment?

If one of the above statements applies to you, please contact Peoples Health at 1-800-978-9765 (TTY users should call 711) to see if you are eligible to enroll. We are available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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