Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D Prescription Drug Plan, this is your opportunity to make a change to your plan, outside of a qualifying life situation such as moving outside of your plan’s service area.

The Annual Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1st of the upcoming year.

During the Annual Open Enrollment Period, you can:

• Switch from one Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan to another Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan
• Join a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan if you did not enroll during your initial or special enrollment window (late enrollment penalties may apply)
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan
• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare

If you are happy with your Medicare insurance plan(s), then in most cases you don’t need to do anything during Open Enrollment. Your current enrollment will continue into the next year. If your plan is changing or being eliminated or you’ve had recent changes to your medications, it’s a good idea to re-shop plans during Open Enrollment to ensure you’re getting the best options based on your unique situation. If you’ve had changes to your plan or medications, contact your licensed BoomerBaby Medicare agent who will assist you in finding and enrolling in a plan that best meets your needs.

Plan changes made during Open Enrollment are effective January 1st of the upcoming year.

Some states like California, Oregon, Washington and a few others allow you to change to an equal or lesser value Medicare Supplement plan each year without having to answer health questions. Rules vary by state. You can apply to change Medicare Supplement plans at any time, but outside of a “guaranteed issue situation” you will be subject to a medical underwriting review process and enrollment into the plan is not guaranteed. Contact your licensed BoomerBaby Medicare agent if you are thinking about changing plans or would like to re-evaluate your coverage. Costs can vary widely among carriers even for identical coverage.

Plan changes outside of the enrollment periods are limited to specific qualifying events such as moving outside of your plan’s service area, gaining access to other employer health coverage, moving to a long-term care facility among others.