As a last reminder, the 2018 annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (AEP) ends tonight, Thursday, December 7th at midnight.

During this final day of the 2018 AEP, you can still join, change, or drop your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan coverage.

After December 7th, most people will only have a limited opportunity to change their 2018 Medicare plan coverage before next year’s 2019 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan Open Enrollment Period.

You can click here to read more about the 2018 Special Enrollment Periods -- situations allowing you to change Medicare plans outside of the AEP.

For an overview of all 2018 Medicare Part D plans or Medicare Advantage plans available in your area, you can use our PDP-Finder or MA-Finder tools.

For example, here is our PDP-Finder showing all Medicare Part D plans available in Illinois (you can change the state to see plans in your area): PDP-Finder.com/IL. Here is an example of our MA-Finder showing Medicare Advantage plans available in ZIP code 15205, Allegheny County, PA (you can change the ZIP code to see plans in your area): MA-Finder.com/15205.

Need someone to speak with about your Medicare plan options?

If you find yourself overwhelmed with all the 2018 Medicare plan choices, you can always telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 and choose to speak with a Medicare representative. Once connected, ask the representative to help you evaluate your 2018 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan options.

Should you decide to change Medicare plans, a Medicare representative can also enroll you in any Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare prescription drug plan directly over the telephone. The enrollment process only takes a few minutes and includes an enrollment confirmation number.

Staying with the same Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan in 2018?

If you wish to stay in your current Medicare plan, you do not need to do anything during the 2018 Open Enrollment Period and you will be automatically re-enrolled into your existing Medicare plan for another year, along with any changes that your current 2017 Medicare plan may have made for 2018.

Again, remember that your 2017 Medicare plan probably will have some changes in 2018 – so please be sure that you understand these changes – and be sure your Medicare plan is still being offered in 2018.

You can use our online PDP-Compare or MA-Compare tools to provide you with a quick overview of how any 2017 Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan is changing in 2018.

What happens if my 2017 Medicare plan is not offered in 2018?

If your Medicare plan is non-renewing or being discontinued in 2018 (not consolidated or merged into another plan), and you do not join another Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan during the Open Enrollment Period, you could be without prescription coverage for all of 2018.

However, if your plan is being discontinued, you will be granted a Special Enrollment Period from December 8, 2017 through February 28, 2018 during which you can join a 2017 Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan. Remember, your Medicare plan coverage begins on the first day of the month following your enrollment. (This is the Service Area Reduction (or SAR) Special Enrollment Period.)

So what is next on the calendar?

The 2018 Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) begins on January 1, 2018 and continues through February 14th.  During the MADP, you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare Part A and Part B, plus you will be able to join a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).

Our 2019 Medicare Part D Reminder Service

If you would like us to update you as information becomes available on the 2019 Medicare Part D program, please click here to sign-up for our free 2019 Reminder Service.  And you can also click here if you would like to receive our regular Medicare Part D Newsletter.  As always, your email information will not be shared with any third parties and there is no cost for our service.

Still have questions?

You can click on the following link and send us your question:
https://q1medicare.com/Helpdesk.php