Dates to Remember

October 1
Insurance companies can release information on plans for the next calendar year. This is a good time to begin shopping for new coverage.

November 15 – December 31
The Annual Election Period (AEP) begins November 15 and ends December 31. During this time Medicare Beneficiaries may change prescription drug plans, change Medicare Advantage plans, return to Original Medicare, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time. Coverage for enrollment changes takes effect on January 1. Beginning Fall 2011 (for the 2012 plan year), the Annual Election Period will run from October 15 to December 7.

January 1 – February 14
The Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP), which will be from January 1 to February 14, will allow beneficiaries to disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. The ADP does not allow people in an MA plan to switch to another MA plan or people in Original Medicare to join an MA plan. Those beneficiaries who want to disenroll from an MAPD plan and return to Original Medicare during the ADP starting 2011 will have a special enrollment period (SEP) to join a Part D plan.

Special Enrollment Times
Even if you did not recently become eligible for Medicare, there are some exceptions that allow you to enroll in a prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan any time during the year.
Examples of special circumstances include, but are not limited to individuals:

• who were enrolled in a plan and recently moved
• who entered a nursing home
• eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid
• with low income
• disenrolling from an employer group health plan
• who involuntarily lost creditable prescription drug coverage.

For questions about how to enroll if you qualify under other special circumstances contact us or contact Medicare.

Home  |  Medicare Shoppers  |  Current Members  |  Providers  |  Brokers  |  Medicare Basics
Notices & Disclaimers | Site Map |  Contact Us