Medicare Plan Changes and Disenrollments
The dates on which you can change your Medicare coverage depend on the plan types involved. If you're considering changing or disenrolling from your current Medicare coverage, call us at 1-866-322-2824 (TTY:711) and speak with one of our licensed benefit advisors to change or disenroll from your plan. Speaking with a benefit advisor helps ensure that your coverage changes are made during a valid enrollment period, and that your reimbursement account isn't affected. Our licensed benefit advisors specialize in health insurance for retirees. They go through annual training and certification to ensure they can help you make an informed and confident decision.
MA, MAPD, or PDP Change Time Frames
During the the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), October 15 through December 7 each year, you can make changes to Medicare Advantage plans (MAs), Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans (MAPDs), and Prescription Drug plans (PDPs). For example, you can change from one plan type to another plan type, change from your current coverage to a new plan, or disenroll from your current coverage. Changes made during the OEP take effect January 1 of the following year.
You can only be enrolled in one plan type at a time. Enrolling in a new MA, MAPD, or PDP will disenroll you from any existing MAs, MAPDs, or PDPs. Keep in mind that enrolling in an MA or MAPD plan won't cancel your Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) policy. Additionally, enrolling in a Medigap policy won't cancel your MA or MAPD plan. MA and MAPD plans require an enrollment reason (Special Enrollment Period (SEP) or OEP) to disenroll.
Additionally, if there are going to be changes to your plan next year, the insurance carrier for your current plan will notify you with enough time to change plans if you want to. Sometimes plans are discontinued. Be sure to read all of your insurance carrier's communications for changes to your current coverage. If you're satisfied with your current coverage, then no action is required; your plans automatically renew. You can make as many changes as you like during the OEP to your MA, MAPD, or PDP, but the last election you make during this period is the plan that will begin January 1.
You can also make changes to your MA, MAPD, or PDP if you have an SEP.
Use Shop & Compare to shop and enroll in plans on the website.
Medicare Supplement Plan Change Time Frames
Medigap policies are open for enrollment year-round, but you may not always be in a guaranteed issue (GI) period. For example, one reason you may have GI rights is if you are losing employer coverage. If you aren't in a GI period, carriers ask questions about your medical history and may choose to not issue you a policy or charge you a higher rate because of your health history. This process is called underwriting.
However, if you want to enroll in an MA or MAPD instead of another Medigap, you can only do that during specific times of the year, unless you have a SEP. Additionally, if you want to end your PDP, you can only do that during specific times of the year or using an SEP. Call us to determine whether you have GI rights or an SEP to enroll.
You can also disenroll from a Medigap and return to Original Medicare at any point during the year.
Guaranteed Issue (GI) Rights
The federal government sets the criteria regarding GI rights, but the carriers must also comply with any additional protections offered by individual states.
Each situation will have its own allowed time frame. Call us to see whether you qualify to enroll using GI rights. These rights extend to you in certain situations, including but not limited to the following:
You turn 65 and are newly eligible for Medicare benefits.
You're under 65 but are newly eligible for Medicare benefits due to disability. Supplement plans aren't always available to people under 65 in all states.
You delayed enrolling in Medicare Part B past age 65, but you've now enrolled in Part B.
You have Medicare Parts A and B, but you've been using an employer group plan for your medical coverage, and it ends or is discontinued.
You have Medicare Parts A and B, but you've been using COBRA benefits and they end.
You move out of your current plan's service area (applies to some plans, such as HMOs, PPOs, and Select Medigaps).
Your Medicare Advantage plan stops providing care in your area.
You're still within your initial enrollment year in a Medicare Advantage plan, and you change your mind.
When you enroll in an AARP Medigap policy, you need an active AARP membership when we submit the application and on the effective date of the policy. If you decide to keep the same policy next year, you aren't required to renew your AARP membership. It's your choice whether you renew the membership. If you need assistance renewing a membership or looking up a current member, please call AARP at 1-888-687-2277.