Medicare annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP or OEP)
In general, you have a once-a-year opportunity to change your stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan (MA or MAPD) during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (AEP) starting on October 15 and continuing through December 7 of every year. Your new Medicare plan coverage will begin on January 1st and continue through the calendar year.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP)
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (MA or MAPD), you can also use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP) that starts on January 1 and continues through March 31. During the MAOEP, you can change or drop your Medicare Advantage plan with new coverage beginning the month after the plan change.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEP)
If available, you can also use one of the many Special Enrollment Period (SEP). to change Medicare plan coverage (for both Part D and Medicare Advantage plans) outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period or Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
Some Medicare Special Enrollment Periods are based on your specific situation where you have an unexpected change of coverage such as, if you move into or leave a nursing home - or your change your home residence and move outside of your plan's Service Area - or you lose your Medicare plan coverage through no fault of your own.
Some SEPs are available to everyone such as the 5-Star SEP that allows you to join any high-quality 5-Star Medicare plan in your area once a year.
If you have both Medicare and Medicaid (or Medicare Part D Extra Help eligible), you may be able to use the Dual-Eligible Special Enrollment Period to change Medicare Part D plans throughout the year. Beginning in 2025, the ability for Extra Help beneficiaries to change plans during the plan year will depend on whether your Medicare plan is a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan. Learn more about the timing for the Dual-Eligible SEP.
So how often could you change Medicare plans in a year?
(1) You can choose a new plan during the annual Open Enrollment Period -with coverage starting January 1st.
(2) If your new Medicare plan is a Medicare Advantage plan, you can use the MAOEP in January and have new coverage on February 1st.
(3) If you move out of your plan's Service Area during March, you could change plans starting April 1st.
(4) If, during April, you find a 5-Star Medicare plan in your area, you can join the 5-Star plan with coverage starting May 1st.
(3) If you move out of your plan's Service Area during March, you could change plans starting April 1st.
(4) If, during April, you find a 5-Star Medicare plan in your area, you can join the 5-Star plan with coverage starting May 1st.
(5) If you are also eligible for Medicare Extra Help, you could change plans monthly depending on your plan type.
(6)... and so on...
(6)... and so on...