Medicare Enrollment Dates & Guidelines

 

 Enrolling into Medicare Parts A & B:

  If you are becoming eligible for Medicare and already drawing Social Security benefits you will be automatically enrolled into Medicare Parts A & B. 

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  If you are becoming eligible for Medicare but not receiving Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, there are three different time periods in which you can enroll in Medicare Parts A & B.

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1. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). You can enroll in Medicare anytime during this seven month period, which is three months before, the month of, and the three months after your birth month. 

• If you enroll during the first three months of your IEP, coverage begins the month in which you first become eligible for Medicare.

• ​If you enroll after your birth month in your IEP, coverage begins the month following the month of enrollment.

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 2. Part B Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

 

The Part B SEP lets you delay enrollment in Part B without penalty if you were covered by insurance (that is deemed creditable coverage ) through you or your spouse’s current employer when you first become eligible for Medicare. You can enroll in Medicare without penalty for up to eight months after you lose your group health coverage or you (or your spouse) stop working.  

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 3. General Enrollment Period (GEP). 

 

If you did not enroll in Medicare when you originally became eligible for it (either during your IEP or an SEP), you can sign up during the GEP. The GEP takes place January 1 through March 31 each year, with coverage starting the first of the month after the month you enroll. You may incur a Part B late enrollment penalty and face gaps in coverage if you sign up during the GEP.

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  The best way to apply for Medicare Parts A & B is either online at www.ssa.gov or contact the Social Security office at 1-800-772-1213.

 

 

Medicare Advantage and Part D Enrollment Periods

Initial Election Period (IEP):

 Much like the IEP for Medicare Parts A & B, you can enroll into Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Drug Plans anytime during this seven month period, which is three months before, the month of, and the three months after your birth month and after you have enrolled into Medicare Parts A & B. 

• If you enroll during the first three months of your IEP, coverage begins the month in which you first become eligible for Medicare.

• ​If you enroll during the fourth through seventh month of your IEP, coverage begins the month following the month of enrollment.

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Special Election Period (SEP):

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 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans have many SEP options for enrollment

 

throughout the year and can vary from time to time.  Please contact me for more details or

 

check out medicare.gov 

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Annual Enrollment Period - October 15- December 7

                       What you can do in this time period:

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.

• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.

• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.

• Disenroll from a Medigap Plan and enroll into a Medicare Advantage Plan.

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage.

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan without drug coverage.

• Join a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

• Switch from one Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

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Open Enrollment Period - January 1–March 31

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• If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can make ONE change to a different plan or switch  back to Original Medicare (and join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan) once during this time. Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your enrollment request.

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Information obtained from medicare.gov, cms.gov, ssa.gov. Feel free to check these sites out for more info