Medicare Open Enrollment Period and its Impact on Medicare Supplement Enrollment

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Medicare Open Enrollment Period and its Impact on Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Enrollment

You may enroll in Medicare Supplement at any time. There are no limitations when you may join, switch or drop the Medigap plan; as long as an insurance company is willing to sell a policy to you. Your insurance application will be subject to medical underwriting (unless you apply for the Medigap Open Enrollment Period or have Medicare Supplement Guaranteed Issue Rights), and the insurance company is free to accept or reject your application. How does the Medicare Open Enrollment Period affect the Medicare Supplement enrollment?

Medicare Open Enrollment Period

Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs every year between October 15 and December 7. Coverage begins on January 1 of the following year. At that time you may switch between Medicare Advantage plans; from the Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, or from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage plan. (For more details, see When to Change Medicare Plans).  Medicare Open Enrollment Period defines when you may enroll/disenroll from the Medicare Advantage plan. Once you are in Original Medicare, you may enroll in a Medigap plan at any time.

Consider the following two options.

You are currently enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan and want to switch to the Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan

You have to wait until the next Medicare Open Enrollment Period, or Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to be disenrolled from the Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, and enroll in the Medicare Supplement plan. Also, don’t forget to join in the stand-alone Medicare Part D Plan if your Medicare Advantage plan covered prescription drugs (MAPD plan).

You are currently enrolled in the Original Medicare and want to enroll in a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan

You may join the new Medigap plan, or switch to another Medicare Supplement plan at any time. Medicare Open Enrollment Period is not relevant in this case. Just remember to keep your current Medigap policy until the new policy is approved.

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What do you think about Medicare Open Enrollment Period (AEP) and its impact on Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Enrollment?  Write your comments.

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For help finding the best Medicare or Individual Health Plan for you, please contact Liberty Medicare or call us at 877-657-7477.

 

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