Understand Your Medicare
Enrollment Periods

You have four enrollment periods to keep on your radar when you are turning 65. Your Initial Enrollment Period, or IEP, is the most important one. If you miss it, you may have to pay more. Start your research well before your IEP starts and be ready to take action. The earlier you sign up, the more likely it is that your coverage will begin on the first day you are eligible.

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is seven months long and includes:

• The three months before the month of your 65th birthday.
• The month of your 65th birthday.
• The three months after the month of your 65th birthday.

*If your birthday is on the first of the month, then your IEP begins and ends one month earlier than others born in the same month and year. Your dates will be the same as someone born the month before you.

Here's what you can do during your IEP.

	Enroll in Original Medicare Part A, Part B or both.
	Choose to get your coverage through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. You must be enrolled in both Parts A and B to join a Medicare Advantage plan.
	Join a Medicare Advantage plan with or without built-in prescription drug coverage (Part D).
	Join a standalone prescription drug plan. You must have Original Medicare or join a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t include drug coverage to join a prescription drug plan. Only certain Medicare Advantage plans allow you to have a standalone prescription drug plan as well.

The General Enrollment Period happens every year at the same time—January 1 through March 31. It gives you another chance to sign up for Medicare Part A, Part B or both if you didn’t enroll during your IEP. You may have to pay a penalty for late enrollment in
some situations.

You can add, switch or drop your Medicare coverage every year from October 15 through December 7. This is called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP). Here’s what you can do during OEP.

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to
  one that does.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage to one that doesn’t.
• Join a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to different Medicare
  prescription drug plan.
• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

This period begins the first day of the month that you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts for six months. You must be enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B to join a Medicare supplement insurance plan.

You cannot be denied Medicare supplement insurance if you apply during your Medicare supplement insurance OEP. If you miss it, you can still apply for coverage at any time. But you may be denied or be charged a higher premium if your health history suggests that you may be a higher risk. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you don’t need
Medicare supplement insurance.

Retiring or losing your employer health care coverage is a special circumstance. You may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)—possibly even more than one. Taking advantage of your SEPs can help you get the health care coverage you need while avoiding coverage gaps and enrollment penalties.

Your enrollment window for Parts A and B lasts for eight months starting the month after your coverage ends. During this time, you can:

Sign up for Original Medicare Part A, Part B or both, even if your Initial Enrollment Period has passed.

Special Enrollment Period for Parts C and D: Retiring or losing coverage in xxx

• Feb
  2012
• Mar
  2013
• Apr
  2013

This enrollment window is much shorter than the Original Medicare SEP. It lasts for two full months after the month your coverage ends. During this SEP, you can:

	Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) with or without prescription drug coverage. You must be enrolled in Parts A and B to join a Part C plan.
	Join a standalone prescription drug plan. You must have Original Medicare or join a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t include drug coverage to join a prescription drug plan. Only certain Medicare Advantage plans allow you to have a standalone prescription drug plan as well.

The General Enrollment Period happens every year at the same time—January 1 through March 31. It gives you another chance to sign up for Medicare Part A, Part B or both if you didn’t enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period or Special Enrollment Period. You may have to pay a penalty for late enrollment in some situations.

You can add, switch or drop your Medicare coverage every year from October 15 through December 7. This is called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP). Here’s what you can do during OEP.

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to one that does.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage to one that doesn’t.
• Join a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to a different Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

This period begins the first day of the month that you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts for six months. You must be enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B to join a supplement insurance plan.

You cannot be denied Medicare supplement insurance if you apply during this period. If you miss your Medicare supplement insurance OEP, you can still apply for coverage at any time. But you may be denied or be charged a higher premium if your health history suggests that you may be a higher risk. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you don’t need Medicare supplement insurance.

You have a few possible enrollment periods to consider, depending on your circumstance. Your Initial Enrollment Period, or IEP, is the most important one. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and deadlines for your IEP.

Your enrollment window is seven months long. It includes:

• The three months before your 25th month of receiving disability benefits.
• Your 25th month of receiving disability benefits.
• The three months after your 25th month of receiving disability benefits.

	Enroll in Original Medicare Part A, Part B or both
	Choose to get your coverage through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. You must be enrolled in both Parts A and B to join a Medicare Advantage plan.
	Join a Medicare Advantage plan with or without built-in prescription drug coverage (Part D).
	Join a standalone prescription drug plan. You must have Original Medicare or join a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t include drug coverage to join a prescription drug plan. Only certain Medicare Advantage plans allow you to have a standalone prescription drug plan as well.

The General Enrollment Period happens every year at the same time—January 1 through March 31. It gives you another chance to sign up for Medicare Part A, Part B or both if you didn’t enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period. You may have to pay a penalty for late enrollment in some situations.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. Here are some examples of circumstances that may qualify you:

• If you’re eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare prescription drug coverage any time.
• If you have a chronic health condition for which there’s a Special Needs Plan (SNP), you can join that plan at any time. You can only use this type of SEP once.
• If you’re enrolled in an SNP and no longer qualify for it, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription drug plan. This SEP enrollment window starts when you lose your special needs status and continues for three months after.

You can add, switch or drop your Medicare coverage every year from October 15 through December 7. This is called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP). Here’s what you can do during OEP.

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to one that does.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage to one that doesn’t.
• Join a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to a different Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

This period begins the first day of the month that you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts for six months. You must be enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B to join a supplement insurance plan.

You cannot be denied Medicare supplement insurance if you apply during this period. If you miss your Medicare supplement insurance OEP, you can still apply for coverage at any time. But you may be denied or charged a higher premium if your health history suggests that you may be a higher risk.

When you have ALS, you are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Part B the month your disability benefits begin. However, you may have other coverage choices, so it’s important to understand your enrollment periods.

Your Initial Enrollment Period IEP won’t apply to Original Medicare Parts A or B because you are already enrolled. However, you can choose to join a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan during your IEP.

If you are younger than 65 years old, your IEP dates depend on when you started receiving disability benefits. Your IEP is seven months long and includes:

• The three months before your 25th month of receiving disability benefits
• Your 25th month of receiving disability benefits
• The three months after your 25th month of receiving disability benefits

If you will turn 65 before your 25th month of receiving disability benefits, then your IEP dates depend on your birthday. Your IEP is seven months long and includes:

• The three months before your 65th birthday month
• The month of your 65th birthday.
• The three months after your 65th birthday month

	Choose to get coverage through a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.
	Join a Medicare Advantage plan with or without built-in prescription drug coverage (Part D).
	Join a standalone prescription drug plan. You must have Original Medicare or join a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t include drug coverage to join a prescription drug plan. Only certain Medicare Advantage plans allow you to have a standalone prescription drug plan as well.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. Here are some examples of circumstances that may qualify you:

• If you’re eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare prescription drug plan any time.
• If you have a chronic health condition for which there’s a Special Needs Plan (SNP), you can join that plan any time. You can only use this type of SEP once.
• If you’re enrolled in an SNP and no longer qualify for it, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug plan. This SEP enrollment window starts when you lose your special needs status and continues for three months after.

You can add, switch or drop your Medicare coverage every year from October 15 through December 7. This is called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP). Here’s what you can do during OEP.

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to one that does.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage to one that doesn’t.
• Join a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to a different Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

This period begins the first day of the month that you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts for six months. You must be enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B to join a supplement insurance plan.

You cannot be denied Medicare supplement insurance if you apply during this period. If you miss your Medicare supplement insurance OEP, you can still apply for coverage at any time. But you may be denied or charged a higher premium if your health history suggests that you may be a higher risk.

You have five main enrollment periods to keep in mind. Your Initial Enrollment Period, or IEP, is the most important one. If you miss it, you may have to pay more. A little research and planning can help make sure you get the coverage you need when you need it.

When you have ESRD and are already eligible for Medicare because you’re 65, or because you’re under 65 and otherwise disabled, Medicare coverage for dialysis begins right away. You just need to:

• File an application with your local Social Security office.
• Meet any waiting periods that apply.
• Sign up for Original Medicare Parts A and B, if necessary, once you’re application is approved./li>

If you’re under 65 and eligible for Medicare only because of ESRD, your coverage will usually start the first day of the fourth month of your dialysis treatments. For example, if you start getting your dialysis treatments in July, your Medicare coverage would start on October 1. You will need to enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B. Your Medicare coverage will end:

• 12 months after the month you stop dialysis treatments
• 36 months after the month of a kidney transplant

Your Medicare coverage may be extended if you meet certain conditions. If it does end, and you are 65 or older, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

The General Enrollment Period happens every year at the same time—January 1 through March 31. It gives you another chance to sign up for Medicare Part A, Part B or both if you didn’t enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period. You may have to pay a penalty for late enrollment in some situations.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. Here are some examples of circumstances that may qualify you:

• If you’re eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare prescription drug plan any time.
• You can join a Special Needs Plan (SNP) designed for people with ESRD at any time. You can only use this type of SEP once.
• If you’re enrolled in an SNP and no longer qualify for it, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug plan. This SEP enrollment window starts when you lose your special needs status and continues for three months after.
• If you’re enrolled in an SNP and it stops being offered in your area, you can either switch to Original Medicare or a to a new Medicare Advantage plan at any time.

You can add, switch or drop your Medicare coverage every year from October 15 through December 7. This is called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP). Here’s what you can do during OEP.

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to one that does.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage to one that doesn’t.
• Join a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to a different Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

This period begins the first day of the month that you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. It lasts for six months. You must be enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B to join a supplement insurance plan.

You cannot be denied Medicare supplement insurance if you apply during this period. If you miss your Medicare supplement insurance OEP, you can still apply for coverage at any time. But you may be denied or charged a higher premium if your health history suggests that you may be a higher risk.

Choosing Medicare coverage is not a one-time event. Things change from year to year. Your Medicare choices may need to change, too.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) happens every year from October 15 through December 7. This gives you a chance to change your coverage as needed to meet your specific needs.

Here’s what you can do during the Medicare OEP.

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to one that does.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage to one that doesn’t.
• Join a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to a different Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

If you are over 65 and transitioning to Medicare from employer coverage, here’s what you can do during this SEP.

• Add Part B if you already have Part A, or vice versa.
• Join a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or prescription drug plan (Part D). You must do this within two months of the date you retire or lose your employer coverage. Also, you must be enrolled in both Parts A and B to join either a Part C or Part D plan.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare every year from January 1 through February 14. Once you leave the Medicare Advantage plan, you are automatically switched to Original Medicare. If your Medicare Advantage plan included drug coverage, then you also have until February 14 to join a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D). Your drug coverage will begin the first day of the month after the Part D plan gets your enrollment form.