Understanding Medicare Enrollment Periods
When can I enroll for Medicare?
You're no doubt aware of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period that occurs each Fall. But, did you know that there are more than 20 Medicare enrollment periods throughout the year that may allow you to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug plan?
Each of these periods is based on unique qualifying factors, and the effective date of your coverage will depend on the rules of the specific enrollment period.
Let's take a closer look, so you can be confident that you understand your options.
Annual Enrollment Period
October 15 to December 7 each year
When it comes to healthcare, change is constant. Whether you experience changes to your health needs, shifts in your plan costs and/or coverage, or the discontinuiation of your current plan, it's important that you be able to update your coverage to meet your needs. The Annual Enrollment Period lets you make changes like:
- Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
- Joining or changing a Medicare Advantage plan
- Joining or changing a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
Open Enrollment Period
January 1 to March 31 each year
Let's say you were unable to modify your Medicare plan during the Annual Enrollment Period. Or maybe you simply aren't happy with the plan you selected. The Open Enrollment Period is designed to allow anyone with a Medicare Advantage plan to make a one-time change to their coverage. You can even use this time to revert back to Original Medicare.
Find My Medicare PlanInitial Coverage Election Period
for Medicare AdvantageStay with us, because this one is a little more complicated. You have a 7 month period around your 65th birthday called IEP to sign up for Original Medicare Parts A and B.
Your IEP Period
3 months before
65th Birthday Month
3 months after
Once that's done, you can also choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan. This is called your Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP).
However, if you delay your enrollment in Medicare Part B, your Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP) is only the three months before your Part B coverage takes effect.
Delayed Part B ICEP Period
3 months before
Part B Effective Date
This means that you will want to fill out your Medicare Advantage enrollment application within the three months before your Medicare Part B is effective. Your Medicare Advantage plan will be effective the same month your Medicare Part B is effective.
Special Enrollment Periods
You may be wondering what happens if you experience a major life change, such as relocating or losing your insurance coverage. It's important to know that there are more than 20 Medicare Special Enrollment Periods throughout the year, during which it may be possible to enroll in a plan.
To see if you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, simply select any situation that applies to you.
There is a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 to November 30 during which you can switch to a 5-star-rated plan.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan and move out of the plan’s service area you will be able to choose a new plan.
The enrollment period timeframe depends on when you notify your plan of the move. If you tell your plan before you move, your chance to switch plans runs from the month before the month you move and until two months after you move. If you tell your plan after you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month you tell your plan, plus two more full months.
💡 If you are moving to a new address that is still in your
plan’s service area but will have new plan options available to
you, you can use this enrollment period.Once you have returned to the United States, your Medicare Parts A and B should be reinstated. You can then enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan. The enrollment period begins the month you move back and continues for two more months.
You can choose to enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan. Your enrollment period will end two months after you move out and your new plan will begin the month after you complete your enrollment application.
I am discontinuing the coverage I get through my employer (including COBRA).
If you have employer group coverage you can discontinue the coverage and enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan. Your new plan’s effective date can be up to three months after the month you complete the enrollment application.
I am losing my employer-sponsored coverage.
You can enroll in enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan. Your enrollment period starts the day you are notified that you will lose coverage and ends two full calendar months after you received notice or after your coverage ends, whichever is later.
I have been notified that my employer sponsored coverage is no longer going to be creditable.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan starting the day you are notified that your coverage will no longer be creditable and ending two calendar months after you received notice or after your creditable coverage status ends, whichever is later.
⚠️ Did your employer fail to tell you that your coverage was not creditable, or did you learn of the loss of creditable coverage after the change took place? You may also qualify for a special enrollment period.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Prescription Drug plan or a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan. The special enrollment period starts the month you become eligible for Medicaid and have Medicare Parts A and B and lasts as long as you have both Medicare and Medicaid.
This enrollment period can be used one time January – March, April – June and July – September. Your coverage will begin the first of the month after you complete your enrollment application.
Whether you qualify for more or fewer benefits, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Prescription Drug plan or a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan within three months of the change, or notification of a change, whichever is later. Your new plan will begin the month after you complete your enrollment application.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan within three months of the plan loss, or notification of the loss, whichever is later. Your new plan will begin the month after you complete your enrollment application.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan starting the month you are notified that you will be losing your plan until three months after your Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan coverage ends. Your new plan will begin the month after you complete your enrollment application.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan starting the month you become eligible for Extra Help and lasting as long as you have Extra Help.
You will be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan within three months of the change, or notification of a change, whichever is later. Your new plan will begin the month after you complete your enrollment application.
You will be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug plan within three months of the loss, or notification of the loss, whichever is later. Your new plan will begin the month after you complete your enrollment application.
You are given one special enrollment period per year to enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage or a Prescription Drug plan. Your new plan will begin the month after you complete your enrollment application.
We hope this information has been helpful, but we also realize it can all be a bit overwhelming at times. You can always reach out to our team to discuss your specific situation, our contact information is below.