Jan 01 to Mar 31
Enrollment Periods – MA Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP)
•For individuals enrolled in an MA plan on January 1 (including those renewing and those whose AEP election first becomes effective January 1) – The MA OEP takes place from January 1 – March 31 of each year.
•For new Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in an MA plan during their ICEP- the MA OEP begins the month of entitlement to Part A and Part B and ends the last day of the 3rd month of entitlement.
The limitation to one election or change during the ICEP does not prevent a new enrollee from changing during the MA-OEP.
•During the MA OEP MA and MA-PD enrollees may:
change to a different MA or MA-PD plan or disenroll from their plan and return to Original Medicare;
change their Part D coverage option under an MA plan; or
if they disenroll to Original Medicare, enroll in a PDP.
An MA–PD enrollee may use the OEP to switch to
(1) another MA–PD plan;
(2) an MA-only plan; or
(3) Original Medicare with or without a PDP.
An MA-only enrollee may use the OEP to switch to –
(1) another MA-only plan; (
2) an MA–PD plan; or
(3) Original Medicare with or without a PDP.
•Beneficiaries may only change plans once during the MA OEP.
•MSA enrollees may not use the MA OEP to disenroll from the MSA.
•As eligibility to use the MA OEP is available only for MA enrollees, the ability to make changes to Part D coverage is limited to any individual who is enrolled in an MA or MA-PD plan before they change.
•As a reminder – Marketing representatives may not do targeted marketing related to the OEP, for example, marketing that mentions the OEP or that targets individuals known to be MA enrollees
Example 1: Mr. Hildalgo has Original Medicare with a PDP. He wishes to enroll in an MA-PD plan during the OEP or, in the alternative, to change his PDP. Because only persons enrolled in MA plans may use the MA OEP to change their election, Mr. Hildalgo would be unable to enroll in an MA-PD plan or change his PDP during the MA OEP (unless another valid election period gave him that option).
Example 2: Ms. Turner turned 65 on May 5th and had not previously been eligible for Medicare. Consequently, she first became entitled to Part A and Part B on May 1st. In April, she signed up to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan without a Part D benefit offered by FantasticHealth, with an enrollment effective date of May 1st. Because Ms. Turner enrolled in an MA plan during her ICEP, she has an MA- OEP from May 1stto July 31st. During this time, she can change to an MA plan with a Part D benefit offered by FantasticHealth or another MA organization, change to a different MA-only plan, or disenroll to FFS Medicare (with the option to enroll in a PDP).
Jan 01 to Mar 31
Part A and Part B sign up
After your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you can sign up for Part B and Premium-Part A between January 1-March 31 each year. This is called the General Enrollment Period.
Starting January 1, 2023, your coverage will start the month after you sign up.
You might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty, if you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period allows anyone enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan to make a one-time change to their coverage from January 1 through March 31.
This enrollment period benefits those who could not change their plan during the Annual Enrollment Period.
Additionally, if you are unhappy with your new Medicare Advantage plan coverage, it is time to change.
During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare (and join separate Medicare drug plan).
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage), you can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage).
It is essential to understand that this enrollment period is only for those already on Medicare Advantage. You may not enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan during this time
There is one additional enrollment period that may apply to you. Each year from 1 January through 14 February , anyone enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage (an MA-PD plan) can join a Part D plan if they first cancel their MA-PD and return to Original Medicare. This is the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
This relatively new enrollment period is available only to people currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan when the enrollment window opens. Running from January 1st through March 31st each year, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period allows people with Medicare Advantage plans to make a one-time change to their coverage. This is not the same as the Open Enrollment period. You can only make one change during this three-month period.
Once you make that change, your new coverage will start on the first day of the month after your new plan gets your request for coverage (according to Medicare.gov).
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. Runs from January 1st through March 31st but only for current Advantage members. If you already have an MA plan, you can use this period to make a one-time change to your coverage. That change takes effect on the first of the month after the new plan gets your request for coverage.
