Open Enrollment sounds intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s your quick need-to-know list on what Open Enrollment means for Medicare.
Once you are enrolled in a Medicare plan, you don’t need to sign up again each year. However, each year you’ll have a chance to review your coverage and change plans—this is the Open Enrollment period.
During these times you can do the following:
- Switch from Original Medicare (Part A or B) [link to: http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/decide-how-to-get-medicare/whats-medicare/what-is-medicare.html] to a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) [link to: http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/decide-how-to-get-medicare/whats-medicare/what-is-medicare.html]
- Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
- Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage, to a Medicare Advantage Plan that does offer drug coverage. [Link to: http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/get-drug-coverage/get-drug-coverage.html]
- Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that does offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage.
- Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
- Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
- Drop your Medicare Prescription Drug coverage completely.
To learn more about Medicare, including 8 Things to Consider About Your Coverage visit the Medicare.gov site or call Medicare directly at 800-633-4227.