Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is from January 1st to March 31, 2009.
Open Enrollment Period (OEP)
The Open Enrollment Period provides Medicare beneficiaries with one opportunity to enroll in, disenroll from, or change a Medicare Advantage plan. Like the General Enrollment Period, the Open Enrollment Period extends from January 1 through March 31 each year. Unlike enrollment in Part B, the change in Medicare Advantage enrollment or disenrollment becomes effective the month after the change is made.
Only beneficiaries who are eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan may make a change during the Open Enrollment Period. In other words, a beneficiary who wants to change must have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B and must live in the area served by the Medicare Advantage plan.
Beneficiaries may not add or drop Part D drug coverage during the Open Enrollment Period. Those who already have drug coverage can only change to another option with drug coverage. Those who do not have drug coverage may not change to an option that provides drug coverage. Permissible changes during the Open Enrollment Period include:
MA-PD to a different MA-PD
MA-PD to Original Medicare and a PDP
Original Medicare and a PDP to an MA-PD
MA-only plan to a different MA-only plan
MA-only plan to original Medicare
Original Medicare to an MA-only plan
Beneficiaries who want to use the Open Enrollment Period to return to Original Medicare from an MA-PD must do so by enrolling in a PDP. Enrollment in a PDP during either the Annual Coordinated Election Period or the Open Enrollment Period terminates enrollment in a Medicare Advantage plan. Because beneficiaries are generally limited to changing their prescription drug coverage during the Annual Coordinated Election Period, MA-PD enrollees who want to return to Original Medicare during the Open Enrollment Period have a Part D Special Enrollment Period that allows them to make one enrollment into a PDP.
For more detailed information on the different enrollment and disenrollment periods each year, click on this link.
For personalized assistance with your choices or enrollment, please call 1-800-289-8376, or click here.