Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Plans Important Dates
Posted by Matt Owens on Fri, Oct 09, 2009
Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Plans
October 1 - November 14
2010 benefit and premium information for the next year is available from all plans, so you can shop and compare and be ready to enroll on November 15 - for the following year.
November 15 - December 31
Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in a Medicare health benefits plan - such as a Medicare Advantage plan, Original Medicare, or a separate prescription drug plan.
January 1 - March 31
If you are not satisfied with the choice you made in November or December, you may still be able to switch plans.
April 1 -November 14
In general, you are not able to switch coverage. This time period is often referred to as the "lock-in" period.
Medicare Supplement Plans
There are no specific enrollment dates for Medicare Supplement plans. The best time to buy a plan is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period which lasts six months. It starts on the first day of the month in which you are BOTH age 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B. Once your Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts it cannot be changed.
During this period you cannot be denied coverage, nor be made to wait before coverage begins.