Enhance Your Medicare Enrollment Understanding with The Little Guy
At The Little Guy Insurance, we’re committed to ensuring you fully grasp your Medicare options and secure all the benefits you’re entitled to. With us, you’ll find clarity in your choices without any pressure to enroll.
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Key Medicare Enrollment Periods Explained
Medicare offers several enrollment periods each year, allowing for new enrollments and changes to existing plans. These periods are:
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This is the first opportunity for eligible individuals to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. It starts three months before and extends three months after the month of your 65th birthday.
- General Enrollment Period (GEP): From January 1 to March 31 annually, this period is for those who missed enrolling in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) when first eligible. Late enrollment may incur penalties, and coverage begins on July 1.
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): Running from October 15 to December 7 each year, this period allows current Medicare recipients to modify or enroll in Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. Changes you can make include:
- Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Changing Medicare Advantage plans.
- Switching or adding Medicare Prescription Drug plans (Part D).
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): This period is triggered by specific life events, such as relocating, losing employer coverage, or certain health conditions. It allows for enrollment or changes to Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP): From January 1 to March 31, this period is exclusively for those already enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. It permits one-time changes like:
- Switching to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
- Dropping Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare.
- Opting for a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan if returning to Original Medicare.