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Medicare Enrollment Periods |
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You are able to enroll in or change your Medicare plan during one or more of the following enrollment periods:
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Medigap Open Enrollment Period
General Enrollment Period
Annual Coordinated Election Period (AEP)
Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP)
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
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This is the time to enroll in Medicare for the first time if you are turning 65. It is your birthday month (unless your birthday falls on the first of the month, then your birthday month is the previous month) plus the 3 months prior to your birthday month and the 3 months after your birthday month. |
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Example:
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Your birthday is February 12th. Your Medicare effective date is February 1st. You can begin enrollment on November 1st. Enrollment ends May 31st.
Your birthday is March 1st. Your Medicare effective date is February 1st. You can begin enrollment on November 1st. Enrollment ends May 31st.
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Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the period of time when an insurance company cannot:
- refuse to sell you any Medigap policy it sells;
- make you wait for coverage to start (pre-existing exclusion may apply)
- ask you any health questions to determine your rate
Medigap Open Enrollment lasts for 6 months. It begins on the 1st day of the month in which you are BOTH age 65 and older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B. This period cannot be changed or repeated.
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If you didn't sign up for Part A and /or Part B (for which you pay monthy premiums) when you were first eligible, you can sign up between January 1 - March 31 each year. Your coverage will begin July 1. You may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment.
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October 15 through December 7 each year. New coverage becomes effective January 1.
You can do the folowing:
 Return to Original Medicare from a Medicare Advantage (MA) or Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan.
Enroll in a MA or MAPD plan
Enroll in a Part D Prescription Drug plan
Change MA or MAPD plans
Change Part D Prescription Drug Plan
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January 1st thru February 14 each year. Your Original Medicare benefits will become effective the first of the month following disenrollment from your Medicare Advantage plan. Your Prescription Drug coverage will become effective the first of the month after your application has been received.
You can do the following:
Return to Original Medicare from a Medicare Advantage (MA) or Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan.
Enroll in a Part D Prescription Drug plan if disenrolling from a MA or MAPD plan
Apply for a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy (medical underwriting may be required).
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You may enroll or change plans for the following:
| You are losing Employer or Union Group Health Coverage. |
You leave an MA plan or drop a Medigap policy because the company hasn't followed the rules or it misled you. |
| You are in a MA plan that is leaving Medicare. |
Your Medigap insurance company goes bankrupt and you lose your coverage. |
| You are in a MA plan and you move out of the plan's service area. |
You have both Medicare and Medicaid. |
| You have a Medicare Select Medigap plan and move out of the plan's service area. |
You are in a Medicare Savings Plan (the state pays your Part B premium). |
| You enrolled in a MA or PACE plan when you were first eligible for Part A and want to return to Original Medicare within the first year. |
You live in a Long Term Care Facility (e.g., a nursing home or rehabilitation hospital). |
| You dropped a Medigap policy to join a MA plan or to switch to a Medicare SELECT plan and want to return to Original Medicare within the first year. |
You are receiving Extra Help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage. |
| You recently returned to the U.S. after living permanently outside of the U.S. |
You belong to a pharmacy assistance program provided by your state. |
| You have been covered by Medicare due to disability and will be turning age 65. |
You recently lost Medicare Part B but still have Part A. |
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