Enrollment Periods

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Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)  Oct 15 - Dec 7
Medicare Annual Enrollment is October 15 to December 7. During this time, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a prescription drug plan. You will automatically go back to Original Medicare if you drop a Medicare Advantage plan, and you will lose drug coverage if it was included with your plan. You may replace it with a standalone prescription drug plan at this time without penalty. A penalty may apply if you drop drug coverage and decide to get it again later.

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Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Jan 1 - March 31
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one coverage change between January 1 and March 31. You may switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. If you go back to Original Medicare, you may also enroll in a Part D plan during this time.

Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) Jan 1 - Oct 1
Call to see if you qualify for an SEP period 480-999-4409
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) allows you to join, change or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or prescription drug plan outside of Medicare Annual Enrollment in certain situations, such as: when you move.

• Have Medicaid = ALTCS, AHCCCS or Extra Help
• Change to your Medicaid
• Eligible for (SNP) Special Needs Plan - Income under $1449  
• Eligible for (LIS) Low Income Subsidy - Income under $2000
• Turning 65
• Moving out of a plan service area (county)
• Moving to AZ from out of state
• Leaving your work health plan and 65 years old
• Medicare Annual Enrollment: Oct 15 - Dec 7
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Jan 1 - March 31
• Entering or exiting a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

These situations are called “qualifying events.” In most cases, you have 2 full months after the month of a qualifying event to make plan changes. If you drop a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage reverts to Original Medicare.

​If you qualify for Medicare and are on Medicaid (AHCCCS or ALTCS) you can change plans four times a year. Once per calendar quarter.

​Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)  For those turning 65 or have just turned 65. 
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is 7 months long. It includes your birthday month plus the 3 months before and the 3 months after. Your IEP begins and ends one month earlier if your birthday is on the first of the month.

If you become eligible for Medicare due to disability, your 7-month IEP includes the month you receive your 25th disability check plus the 3 months before and the 3 months after.

You may enroll in Part A, Part B or both. You may join a Part D plan if you enroll in Part A, Part B or both. If you enroll in both Part A and Part B, you may choose to join a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), Medicare Advantage Plans can include Part D.

General Enrollment Period  (GEP)
The General Enrollment Period (GEP) is when those who missed their IEP can enroll in Medicare Part A, Part B or both. The GEP happens every year from January 1 to March 31. You may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or a prescription drug plan (Part D) from April 1 to June 30 the same year. You must be enrolled in both Part A and Part B to be eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan. You may join a Part D plan if you are enrolled in Part A, Part B or both.

Special Enrollment Period: Working past 65
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Part A, Part B or both without penalty for up to 8 months after the month your employment or employer coverage ends, whichever comes first. This is also true if you are covered under your spouse’s employer coverage. You must be 65 to be eligible for Medicare.
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You can also enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or prescription drug plan (Part D) up to 2 full months after the month your employment or employer health insurance ends. You must be enrolled in Part A and Part B to be eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan. You may enroll in a Part D plan if you have Part A, Part B or both.

Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment
Your Medicare supplement open enrollment is 6 months long. It begins the month you are 65 or older and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. You cannot be denied coverage if you enroll during your open enrollment. Some states have additional enrollment periods.
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You may apply for Medicare supplement insurance at other times, but you could be denied coverage or charged a higher premium based on your health history.

Late enrollment penalties
Medicare Part A, Part B and Part D may charge premium penalties if you enroll late. Medicare supplement plans may deny coverage or charge more if you apply late. Make sure you know your enrollment period dates and what your options are. You may delay enrolling without incurring penalties in certain situations.

Medicare Part A
Most people don’t pay a premium for Part A, but those who do may be penalized if they sign up after their IEP. The penalty is an additional 10% of the premium amount. It’s charged every month for twice the number of years enrollment was delayed.

Medicare Part B
Part B charges a penalty when you enroll after your IEP, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. The penalty is an additional 10% of the premium amount for each full 12-month period enrollment is delayed. It’s charged every month for as long as you have Part B.

Medicare Part D
The penalty for late enrollment in a Part D plan is 1% of the average Part D premium for each month you delay enrollment. You pay the penalty for as long as you’re enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan. You may delay enrolling in Medicare Part D without penalty if you qualify for Extra Help or have creditable drug coverage.

Medicare Supplement Insurance
You may apply for Medicare supplement insurance any time, even after your Open Enrollment Period. But you could be denied coverage or charged a higher premium based on your health history.

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