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Medicare Enrollment Expanded by the Federal Government

The Federal Government has extended the time to sign up for Medicare, mainly the relief period, also known as the Special Enrollment Period (SEP), for people through September 30.

Normally the annual open enrollment for Medicare is January 1st through March 31st. This time is when people who missed signing up for Medicare Part B at the time they were supposed to. Generally the time to sign up is three months before you turn 65, the month of when you turn 65 and the 3 months after that month. For example, if your 65th birthday falls in February, you can sign up November through May. If you miss this period you must enroll during the Special Enrollment Period.

During the January 1-May 31st Special Enrollment, people will have to pay a late fee based on how many years you delayed signing up from your eligibility. Also, your coverage will not start until July 1st.

The federal government expanded the special enrollment period until September 30th. The time expansion is mainly for those who enrolled in marketplace insurance when they could have enrolled in Medicare after losing their spouse’s job-based insurance or their own plan. The fees that would normally be charged for late enrollment will be waived through this relief process. There will also be no gaps in coverage when enrolling late.

“CMS’ decision to expand equitable relief will help even more people hampered by costly penalties and those going without needed health care,” said Joe Baker, president of Medicare Rights. “We applaud CMS for doing right by people new to Medicare, and we look forward to working with our agency partners, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), local Social Security Offices, and others to help people access this critical relief.

If you qualify for the time-limited equitable relief, or have questions, you can go online and even apply at www.medicareinteractive.org.

New Medicare Open Enrollment Dates

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, has announced that beginning in 2019, there will be a continuous Medicare Open Enrollment Period which will now be January 1- March 31st. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to to make a one time change of plans.

In 2011, the Affordable Care Act changed the Annual Election Period (AEP) to October 15 through December 7 every year and changed the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) into a Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) which was January 1-February 14. During the Disenrollment Period, you can drop your current Medicare Advantage plan and can return to Medicare and purchase Medicare Supplement. You can purchase Part D plan but only if you drop your Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan, MAPD.

The 21st Century Cure Act that just passed and signed into law is bringing back the Open Enrollment Period dates. During the AEP, beneficiaries can change switch as much as they want but a final decision will be by December 7. The AEP will still during October 15- December 7 every year where beneficiaries can:

Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage Plan
Switch from Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare
Change Medicare Advantage Plans
Enroll in a Part D plan
Drop prescription drug coverage
Switch or purchase Medicare Supplement Plan

During the 2019 OEP, January 1-March 31st, beneficiaries can make a one time change to:

Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan to another MAPD
Switch a MAPD to Original Medicare and a Part D
Switch Original Medicare and Part D to a MAPD.
Change Medicare Advantage Plans
Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage Plan
Switch Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
Purchase Medicare Supplement Plan when switching to Original Medicare*

*When purchasing a Medicare Supplement Plan during OEP, you will not have guaranteed issue and subject to underwriting.

The AEP can be a hectic time for many Medicare beneficiaries because it falls during the holidays. Some people will wait until the holidays are over to try and change plans and find out they cannot do it until the next AEP in a year. Now, with this new OEP, from January 1-March 31st, beneficiaries can help those that missed the deadline to have another chance to make changes.