Important Dates for Medicare Enrollment

Understanding Medicare enrollment periods and the important dates that come with them is crucial to ensuring you get the coverage you need. Whether you’re new to Medicare or considering changes to your existing plan, knowing when you can enroll or make adjustments can help you avoid penalties and maximize your benefits. Below, we’ve highlighted the essential dates and enrollment periods to keep on your radar:

Important Dates

• Jan. 1: If you made changes to your Medicare coverage, those changes start today. If you kept your existing plan, any updates to costs or benefits also take effect on this date.
• Jan. 1 to March 31: If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, this is your window to switch to a different plan or return to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan). Any changes you make will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.
• Oct. 1: Start reviewing your current Medicare coverage. Comparing your plan with other options now could help you save money or access extra benefits.
• Oct. 15 to Dec. 7: This is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, your annual opportunity to make changes to your health or drug coverage for the coming year. During this time, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare drug plan, or switch back to Original Medicare. Any changes you make will take effect on Jan. 1.

Understanding Medicare Enrollment Periods

Initial Enrollment Period

Generally, this is the first time you can sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B. You can also sign up for Part D during this period. It spans seven months, starting three months before the month you turn 65 and ending three months after. If your birthday falls on the first of the month, your enrollment period starts a month earlier.

Your Initial Enrollment Period is the best time to sign up for a Medicare Supplement plan, if you go the Original Medicare route. If you miss that opportunity, it’s best to talk to an agent who can walk you through the options.

Special Enrollment Period

After your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you may still have an opportunity to sign up for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period. For example, if you didn’t enroll in Part B (or Part A, if you need to purchase it) when you were first eligible because you were covered by a group health plan through current employment (your own, a spouse’s, or a family member’s if you have a disability), you can sign up for Part A and/or Part B.

During a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Part A and/or Part B:

• While you’re still covered by the group health plan
• During the eight-month period that begins the month after the employment ends or the coverage ends, whichever happens first.

Your Medicare coverage will start on the first day of the month after you sign up. Usually, you won’t have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a Special Enrollment Period. This period doesn’t apply if you’re eligible for Medicare based on end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or you’re still in your Initial Enrollment Period.

General Enrollment Period

If you need to pay for Part A but didn’t sign up for it, or if you didn’t sign up for Part B (which requires paying premiums) during your Initial Enrollment Period and you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can enroll during the General Enrollment Period. This period runs from Jan. 1 – March 31 each year. However, you may have to pay higher premiums for Part A and/or Part B due to late enrollment.

When you sign up during the General Enrollment Period, your coverage will start the first day of the month after you enroll.

Open Enrollment Period

If you want to change your Medicare health or drug coverage, you can do so during the Open Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. During this time, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare drug plan (Part D) or switch back to Original Medicare. Any changes you make will take effect on Jan. 1 of the following year.

Review your current coverage and decide if it still meets your needs, as this may be the only time you can make changes to your plan for the upcoming year.

Navigating Medicare enrollment periods can seem overwhelming, but understanding the key dates and options available to you can make a significant difference in your health care coverage. Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or considering changes to your existing plan, staying informed will help you make the best decisions for your health and finances.

Part D Considerations

Medicare Part D is a voluntary program that helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. It’s offered through private insurance companies that are approved by the federal government. You can become eligible for Medicare Part D when you qualify for other parts of Medicare, which is usually when you turn 65. However, there are exceptions for people with certain disabilities or medical conditions, such as ALS or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

You can enroll in Medicare Part D during the Initial Enrollment Period. Or, you can enroll in a Part D plan after enrolling in Medicare Part A and Part B.

You can get Part D coverage through a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan offered by a private insurance company or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D benefits. If you do not enroll in Part D during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can also enroll in or make changes to Part D coverage during the Fall Open Enrollment Period — but you may have a late enrollment penalty if you are using Fall Open Enrollment to enroll in Part D for the first time.

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

Paying attention to enrollment periods is important. If you have more questions, you can find an agent close your community or go online to schedule an appointment with a licensed Avera Health Plans agent.

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