Medicare Open Enrollment & What it Means for You

In our October post, Medicare Acronyms & Changes for 2019, we mentioned Medicare’s “Open Enrollment” period which allows you a one-time change in your MA plan. In this post, we’ll go into a little more detail to help you unravel the Medicare OEP mystery.

If you’re familiar with Medicare at all, you’re aware that the AEP (annual enrollment period) runs from Oct. 15th – Dec 7th each year and allows you to make change to your Medicare insurance however you wish.

​In years past, the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment period (Jan 1st – Feb 14th) allowed you to disenroll from your Medicare Advantage policy and return to Original Medicare with or without drug coverage. However, you were not allowed to switch from one MA plan to another.

Beginning in 2019 the ‘disenrollment period’ has been changed to Open Enrollment, runs from Jan 1st – March 31st and applies to Medicare recipients whose MA coverage went into effect Jan 1, 2019.

What does this mean for you?

According to MedicareResources.org and other sources, the Open Enrollment period allows the Medicare recipient to make a one-time switch from one MA plan to another or to switch from a MA plan back to Original Medicare with or without a prescription drug plan.

The Open Enrollment period does not allow changes from Medicare Prescription Drug plans only!

We hope this brief explanation of Medicare’s OEP (open enrollment period) helps you understand a little more the ins and outs of Medicare.

If you have other questions, feel free to visit our Medicare and/or Medicare FAQ pages, or check out our blog posts on the History of Medicare, Understanding Medicare and Medicare Acronyms & Changes for 2019.

If you have questions as to which Medicare Enrollment Period you may qualify for, contact a licensed agent today.

Until next time remember there is no question that cannot be answered.

 Tommy Curtis and Staff

​Disclaimers:

• Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information.
• Not connected or affiliated with any United States Government or State agency.
• Calling this number will direct you to a licensed Agent/Broker.

 
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