Understanding Medicare Special Needs Plans in San Bernardino County, California

Medicare Special Needs Plans have with strict enrollment windows. By knowing when and how to sign up, you’ll avoid missed deadlines and keep your healthcare coverage aligned with your needs.

Understanding Enrollment Windows

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Beginning three months before you turn 65 and lasting until three months after, this is the initial chance to join Medicare. You may also select a Medicare Advantage plan if it fits your needs. Learn more
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): Between January 1 and March 31, people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can make a one-time change—switch to another plan or return to Original Medicare. Learn more
• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): From October 15 through December 7 each year, you can make changes to your Medicare coverage for the following year. Learn more
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Life events like moving to a new service area, losing other health coverage, or becoming eligible for assistance may open a Special Enrollment Period to adjust your Medicare coverage. Learn more

Ways to Enroll in Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans

1. Consult a Licensed Agent: Call a licensed insurance agent at HealthCompare 1-833-748-3201 (TTY 711), available Monday through Friday 5am–6pm and Saturday 6am–5pm PST, for help reviewing your Medicare options.
2. Contact the Plan Provider Directly: Start enrollment by reaching out to the plan provider through their website or by phone with their member services team.
3. Use Medicare.gov: At Medicare.gov, you can compare Medicare Advantage plans side by side and enroll securely online.

• CMS.gov, Landscape Source Files — Last accessed September 26, 2025
• CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance — Last accessed October 10, 2025
• CMS.gov, Plan Benefits Package — Last accessed October 13, 2025
• CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed October 13, 2025

Some facts and percentages shown on this page (such as average premiums, distribution of plan types, and percentage of $0 premium plans) are calculated by Medicare.org using data from the CMS Plan Benefits Package (PBP) files and Part C & D Performance files. All underlying values originate from CMS, and calculations are refreshed whenever CMS issues updated data.

Medicare.org separates Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs) into different pages for clarity. As a result, plan counts, percentages, and other calculations shown here may differ from the aggregate totals published in the CMS Landscape files. All plan availability and benefit details originate from CMS.

Learn more about how we use CMS data.

• CMS.gov, "Medicare Advantage Plan Fact Sheet" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
• Medicare.gov, "Your coverage options" — Last accessed 23 May, 2025
• Medicare.gov, "Joining a plan" — Last accessed 21 May, 2025

Medicare.org is owned and operated by Health Network Group, LLC, an Allstate company. Medicare.org provides information only and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard.

Page content managed by David Bynon, Medicare Analyst.