Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15th to December 7th. These are the same dates every year.

What is Medicare Open Enrollment?

Also called AEP – Annual Enrollment Period is the time of year Medicare Beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Plans.

Information for new plans starts to become available each year on or around October 1st, but changes can not be made until AEP actually starts on October 15th.

What Changes Can you Make During the Annual Enrollment Period?

• If you are in Original Medicare, you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan during this time.
• You can also join or switch Part D Prescription Drug Plans.
• In addition, if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to another plan.
• Finally, you can drop a Medicare Advantage plan to return to Original Medicare during this time.

Are Medicare Supplements Affected by Medicare Open Enrollment?

This enrollment period does not apply to Medicare Supplements (Medigap) Plans. You are free to change these plans when you please. However, if you are outside of a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) then you will need to go through medical underwriting to get into a new Medigap Plan. Medical Underwriting usually entails answering basic health questions by phone or in person with an agent.

What is the January – March Open Enrollment Period?

Sometimes also called Open Enrollment, the government created a new time period that runs from January 1st to March 31st each year where you can make limited changes. According to the Medicare and You Book,

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can make a change to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch back to Original Medicare (and join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan) once during this time. Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

Medicare and You 2020

The important thing to note here, is that you can only make ONE change during this time. Lawmakers created this time period to give you the opportunity to fix any problems you may have found in your current plan or any new plan you may have adopted.

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AEP stands for Annual Enrollment Period. It is the time of year when Medicare Beneficiaries can switch or enroll in Medicare Part D, drug plans and / or Medicare Advantage Plans.

Do you love a good acronym? How about a very large amount of them?

The health and insurance industries are nothing if not full of confusing acronyms. Moreover, “industry people” will just assume you know them all. AEP is no exception, so let’s discuss what actually is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period.

The Definition of AEP

AEP stands for Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period. It is defines the period of time each year eligible seniors can enroll in both:

• Medicare Advantage Insurance Plans (Part C)

• And Prescription Drug Plans (Part D).

In addition, you will not be required to go through medical underwriting to join these plans. (ESRD is an exception.)

What is SEP? and What is IEP?

Outside of a SEP (Special Enrollment Period) or your IEP (Initial Enrollment Period), this is the only time that you can join a Part D or Part C plan. Yes, I know, more acronyms!

In addition, AEP is one of the two times you can switch plans, if you are already in one.

The US government just added the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. This is a second period of time – Jan. 1 – March 31 – where you can switch plans once if you are already in a plan.

When is AEP?

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is October 15th – December 7th. The changes you make during this period of time will take place for the following year on January 1st.

Possible Changes During the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

• If you have Original Medicare, or Original Medicare and a Supplement, you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan or join/change a Prescription Drug Plan.

• Next, you can leave a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan for another MA plan or to revert to Original Medicare.

• You can switch from one stand alone drug plan to another stand alone drug plan.

• Finally, you can drop your drug plan. (If you do this, you can still keep your Original Medicare and/or supplement.

Does AEP apply to Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Plans?

No, AEP does not apply to Medigap (supplements). You can switch a supplement plan at any time. However, you will be subject to medical underwriting. This means that you are not guaranteed to be accepted into the Medigap plan.

• Related Reading: Which is better, Medicare Advantage or Medigap?

How do I Switch Plans / Join a Plan During Medicare Annual Enrollment Period

You can start researching and learning about the plans available to you the next year, starting October 1st. However, you will not be able to complete an enrollment application until October 15th.

When switching/joining a MA/MAPD or Drug Plan, I highly suggest using an independent insurance agent.

There are many considerations when choosing a plan, and she/he will help you in making sure you pick the right plan for you.

If you live in Nebraska, please give me a email/call/text, and I will be happy to help.)

That said, you can also research plans and see their ratings at https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan.

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