Enrollment Periods

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) occurs October 15 through December 7 each year and your coverage is effective January 1 of the following year. During AEP, you have the option to make changes to your current plan or switch to a new plan.

What you can do:

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan;
• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare;
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan;
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage;
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage;
• Join a Medicare drug plan;
• Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another Medicare drug plan; or
• Drop your Medicare drug coverage completely.

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) occurs when you are newly eligible for Medicare. During the IEP, you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, but the enrollment period is different for everyone and is dependent on your current situation.

Reasons you might qualify for an IEP include:

• You turned 65;
• You have a disability and you're under 65;
• You're already eligible for Medicare of a disability, and you turn 65;
• You have Medicare Part A coverage, and you get Part B for the first time by enrolling during the Part B General Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31). 

Call SummaCare today to discuss the many circumstances that might place you in your Initial Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period. 

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) runs from January 1 through March 31 of each year, and offers the opportunity to switch carriers, plans or back to Original Medicare.

What you can do:

• If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage), you can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage).
• You can drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. You'll also be able to join a Medicare drug plan. 

What you can't do:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
• Join a Medicare drug plan if you're in Original Medicare.
• Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another if you're in Original Medicare

Note: If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a drug plan) within the first three months you have Medicare.

• You moved outside the service area of your current plan 
• You lost your other insurance coverage 
• Your plan changes its contract with Medicare 
• You are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid 
• You are receiving the Low-Income Subsidy

Call SummaCare today to discuss the many circumstances that might place you in your Initial Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period.