Learn what you can change during this time and how to make the most of your coverage.
It’s not time to shop yet, but you can review the plans that you can join, switch or drop while you wait. The shopping window begins in:
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After you enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B, there’s a time every year when you change your current coverage. This time is called the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP. It happens from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, with new coverage starting on Jan. 1 of the next year.
You can enroll in, switch or drop Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Prescription Drug (Part D) coverage.
Plans vary by location, and partner carriers may not offer plans in all areas. To view plans in your area, enter your ZIP code in the shopping experience.
These plans are offered by Humana, Aetna and Devoted Health as alternatives to Original Medicare. Many include prescription drug coverage.
Here are your options for Medicare Advantage during AEP:
These are stand-alone plans from Humana and Aetna that help cover the cost of medications. You pair them with Original Medicare.
Before you make changes, we recommend you log on to update your drug list. Then you can:
Your plan will automatically renew. But because insurers change plans each year, it's important to understand your plan and needs.
Look for your Annual Notice of Change letter, which arrives in September. It shows if costs or benefits will change next year. Check if your doctors are still in network, since out-of-network care may cost more. Then decide if your plan still meets your needs.
Review your medications, and make any needed changes to your drug list. This may make it easier to compare each plan's prescription drug coverage and decide whether you need to switch.
Did you have changes to your budget that may affect how much you can pay toward medical costs? If so, consider things like premiums, deductibles, copayments and prescriptions.
Are you expecting to have surgery, treatment or more doctor’s appointments next year? Consider these types of things when reviewing your policy to help you decide if you need more coverage.
Are you planning on traveling abroad? Original Medicare may not cover medical care overseas. If you’re taking a trip, you may want to consider additional coverage that can cover you for emergencies.
The Annual Enrollment Period, also known as the Open Enrollment Period, lets you enroll in certain plans, change coverage or leave a plan.
The Initial Enrollment Period is when you first become eligible for Medicare at age 65 and can enroll in the plan of your choice.
You may be able to make changes to your Prescription Drug Plan and Medicare Advantage coverage if certain life events happen. This can include things like moving out of your plan’s coverage area or losing your insurance.
You can make changes during Special Enrollment Periods, but the timeframes may vary. For more information, call a licensed insurance agent at 800-531-8793.
It might. That’s why it’s important to check the details for any plan you’re considering switching to.
You can easily compare plan information online like:
No. AEP is specifically for switching Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plans, not Medigap policies.
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