Be sure to sign up when you're eligible. If you don't sign up when you're eligible, you might owe a penalty. Medicare beneficiaries who go for 63 days or more without “creditable drug coverage” must pay a late enrollment penalty. Creditable coverage is prescription drug coverage that meets Original Medicare's standards.
Medicare enrollment periods refer to times when you can join, switch, or make changes to a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
The Annual Enrollment Period starts October 15 and ends on December 7. During this time period, you can...
The Initial Enrollment Period is when someone first becomes eligible and can sign up for Medicare. For most people, this is when they turn 65.
It begins three months before your 65th birthday month and lasts three months after your 65th birthday month. For example, if you turn 65 in April, you can sign up in January, February, March, April, May, June or July.
If you sign up in any of the three months before your 65th birthday month, coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up during or after your 65th birthday month, your coverage start date will be the first day of the month following your application approval.
After your initial coverage starts, you have three months to make a one-time switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare.
You could qualify for a Special Enrollment Period during any month when certain events happen in your life. You may qualify for an SEP if...
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) starts Jan. 1 and ends on March 31. During this period, you are allowed to make one change to your Medicare plan type. The following changes are allowed:
Learn more about your Medicare Advantage options.
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