Medicare Open Enrollments



When it comes to Medicare enrollment - there are certain times when you can sign up, and it’s very important to know it before you miss it or make mistakes. You should enroll on time. If you wait to sign up, you may have to pay penalties when you join. I will cover the penalties in another video. For now, let’s take a look at various enrollment periods

Let’s start with Initial Enrollment Period – this is the first time you can sign up for Medicare.

The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is the first time you can sign up for Medicare.

  • The 3 months before your 65th birthday,
  • The month of your birthday, and
  • The 3 months after your birthday.

You may join Medicare Parts A, B, C and D during this time:

It is important to remember that:

- If you aren’t automatically enrolled, you can sign up for free Part A (if you’re eligible) any time during or after your Initial Enrollment Period starts. Your coverage start date will depend on when you sign up. If you have to buy Part A and/or Part B, you can only sign up during a valid enrollment period.

- If you wait until the month you turn 65 (or the 3 months after you turn 65) to enroll, your Part B coverage will be delayed. This could cause a gap in your coverage.

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD

Once your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you may have a chance to sign up for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). If you're covered under a group health plan based on current employment and you choose to keep current coverage past your 65th birthday, you have a SEP anytime as long as:

·         You or your spouse (or family member if you're disabled) is working.

·         You're covered by a group health plan through the employer or union based on that work.

You also have an 8-month SEP to sign up for Parts A and B that starts at one of these times (whichever happens first):

·         The month after the employment ends

·         The month after group health plan insurance based on current employment ends

You may join Medicare Parts A, B, C and D during this time:

Again, keep in mind that you have 8 months to sign up for Parts A and B after group/employer health coverage has ended. For Parts C and D you only have 63 days to sign up after the group coverage has ended.

Usually, you don't pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a SEP

If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period or your Special Enrollment Period, You have two additional periods to enroll.

One of them is:

-       GENERAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD

You can sign up for Part A and/or Part B during the General Enrollment Period between January 1–March 31 each year if both of these apply:

·         You didn't sign up when you were first eligible.

·         You aren’t eligible for a Special Enrollment Period



During this time, you can only enroll in Part A and/or B It is important to remember that if you need to enroll in Part A, you must also enroll in Part B at this time.

You must pay premiums for Part A and/or Part B. Your coverage will start July 1. You may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment in Part Aand/or a higher premium for late enrollment in Part B.



OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD – runs every year from October 15 through December 7

During this time you can sign up for health plans (Part C or D), or make changes to coverage you already have. You don’t need to sign up for Medicare  health plans each year. However, each year you’ll have a chance to review your coverage and change plans.

·         You may join Medicare Parts C and D during this time:

During this time:

  • Anyone with Medicare Parts A & B can switch to a Part C plan.
  • Anyone with Medicare Part C can switch back to Parts A & B.
  • Anyone who has or is signing up for Medicare Parts A or B can join, drop or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
  • Anyone with Medicare Part C can switch to a new Part C plan.


Medigap Open Enrollment – (also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance).


It’s recommended that you buy a Medigap policy during your 6-month Medigap open enrollment period. This period automatically starts the month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

If you apply for Medigap coverage after your open enrollment period, there’s no guarantee that an insurance company will sell you a Medigap policy if you don’t meet the medical underwriting requirements, unless you’re eligible due to a special situation.

If you have questions, please feel free to comment under the video! We love helping people! You can also reach us directly! 

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