The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period starts on January 1st and ends on March 31st. During this time, you have several options available, but remember you can make a change only once during this time.

What is Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is when Medicare Advantage plan members can change plans.

When is the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period?

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from the 1^st of January to the 31^st of March each year. This means that you have a 3-month window during which you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan.

Any changes that you make during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period will take effect the following month. Your coverage will start the first day of the month after you ask to join the plan.

What can you do during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

This enrollment period gives you a chance to revisit your plan choice and make changes if you need to. The changes you can make include the following:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (Part C).
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare (Part A & Part B).
• Enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug plan (Part D), if you go back to Original Medicare.

What is the difference between Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment and Medicare Annual Enrollment?

There are two main differences between Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment and Medicare Annual Enrollment.

The first one is who can use each period:

• Medicare Annual Enrollment is for anyone who has Medicare and wants to make coverage changes for the upcoming year,
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is only for people who are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

The second difference is the timing. Both happen every year:

• Medicare Annual Enrollment is October 15 – December 7,
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is January 1 – March 31.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is only for Medicare Advantage plan members. You cannot enroll for a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time or switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period. For that, you generally need to wait until the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7.

How to get ready for Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment and decide whether you need to change your plan?

Whether you recently enrolled or have had your Medicare Advantage plan for years, you can take this opportunity to confirm – or change – your plan choice. Try to use your Medicare Advantage plan early in the year to learn if you’re getting the coverage and customer service that you want. Think about your experiences using your plan, review your plan benefits, and ask yourself the following questions:

– Are your doctor and other providers in the plan network?
– Are your prescription drugs on the plan formulary?
– Are you comfortable with your costs, including premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance?
– Do you have the additional coverage that you want for things like dental, vision, and hearing care?
– Are you happy with your plan’s extra benefits such as fitness programs, acupuncture, OTC medications, and other services?

If you decide to make a change, you have from January 1 – March 31 to do it. If you decide to switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan, you can choose one from the same insurance company as your current plan or from a different one. You can choose any plan offered where you live.

Use this plan finder to search for the right plan for your specific needs and budget.

If you decide to go back to Original Medicare, research Prescription Drug plans (Part D) and Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap) before you do that. You may need to add them to Original Medicare to get the coverage and financial protection you want. Also, think about how you’ll replace the coverage you may be giving up with your Medicare Advantage plan, such as dental and vision.

Who can benefit the most from the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

Those who missed the last Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7). Open Enrollment was your chance to make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan, but life got in the way, and you forgot or missed the deadline. So now you think you are stuck with a plan that you didn’t want for another year. Don’t despair, you still have one chance to make a change during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31).

Maybe you did make switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan during the last Open Enrollment, but now you are wondering if it was the right choice. Don’t worry, you have a chance to test drive your new Medicare Advantage plan and if you are not satisfied with your selection, you can do something about it during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31).

If the Medicare Advantage plan you selected during Open Enrollment works out well for you, you can choose to stay with it and enjoy it throughout the entire year.

What happens if you miss the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

In some circumstances, you may be able to make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan outside of the January 1^st to 31st of March window.

If you miss the Medicare Advantage period, you can also make changes during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period that runs from October 15^th to December 7^th. During the Open Enrollment Period, you can make the following changes to your Medicare Advantage plan:

·        Enroll for Medicare Advantage for the first time;

·        Disenroll from Medicare Advantage and switch back to Original Medicare;

·        Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another;

Special Enrollment for Medicare Advantage

In some instances, you may qualify for Special Enrollment if you meet the criteria set by Medicare. Some circumstances that may qualify you for Special Enrollment outside the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period include:

·        Changing where you live;

·        Losing your current coverage;

·        Your Medicare Advantage plan is no longer Medicare-approved;

·        You move back to the U.S after living abroad;

·        You have recently been released from prison;

Special Enrollment for 5-star Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage plans can be rated between 1 and 5 stars depending on the quality and user satisfaction of the particular plan. If there are Medicare Advantage plans with a 5-star rating available in your area, you may be able to switch to these plans outside of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period.

During the 5-star Special Enrollment period, which runs from December 8 to November 30, you can switch from your Medicare Advantage plan to a plan with a 5-star rating. However, you can only use this Special Enrollment for a 5-star Advantage plan once between December 8^th and November 30^th of the following year.

In sum…

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, gives you a second chance – after the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period – to make sure that you have a plan that fits your health and budget needs.