Maybe, depending on your situation. Most people
cannot change their Medicare Part D plan coverage after the December 7
th
annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) deadline. However, if you qualify for
a
Special Enrollment Period (SEP), you can change your plan outside of the AEP.
You may qualify for an SEP for a number of reasons, some
examples include:
- If you move out of your Medicare plan’s Service Area (State or ZIP Code region).
- If you move into (or out of) a Long-Term Care facility.
- If you are enrolled in a sanctioned Medicare plan (see SEP
for sanctioned plans), you may qualify for an SEP. To learn more and see if
you qualify for this particular SEP, you will need to contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
- If you are eligible for the low-income
subsidy (LIS) or the Medicare Part D Extra-Help program, you can change
your Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage at any time during 2016.
- If you are enrolled in a low-performing
Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan (a plan with consistently low
quality ratings), you may qualify for an SEP and be able to change plans once,
at any time during 2016.
- You also have the once-a-year opportunity to join a Medicare
plan with a “5-Star”
quality rating at any time during the year. (Unfortunately, 5-Star rated Medicare plans are not available in many areas.)
Important: If you switch to a "5-Star"
Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (a plan that only provides drug coverage
– PDP) from your current Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug
coverage (health and drug benefits – MAPD), you would be automatically
dis-enrolled from your Medicare Advantage plan and would return back to your
Original Medicare Part A and B coverage along with your new “5-Star”
prescription drug plan.
- Finally, depending on your circumstances, you may be granted
a Special Enrollment Period if you were provided false or misleading information
when enrolling into your plan. To learn more and see if you qualify for
this particular SEP, you will need to contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
- Please note that we are no longer in the 2016 Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) that started on January 1st and continued through February 14th and so you no longer have the ability to use the MADP to leave your 2016 Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare Part A and Part B - with the opportunity to enroll in a 2016 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.