Medicare

When you turn 65 or otherwise become eligible you'll have your Initial Enrollment Period. This begins three months before and ends three months after the month of your 65th birthday for a total of 7 months. If you have employer or plan-sponsored coverage when you first become eligible you won't need to enroll until you retire or otherwise lose that coverage.  Prescription Drugs (Part D) coverage must be creditable or you may be subject to a late-enrollment penalty when you do enroll in a plan with Part D benefits.

October 15 - December 7

During this period you can add, drop, or switch your Medicare plan and/or prescription drug coverage for an effective date of January 1st.

Medicare Advantage (MA) plan members can make a one-time election annually to switch MA plans or to drop from an MA plan and obtain coverage through Medicare, with or without stand-alone drug coverage. Newly eligible MA individuals who enroll in an MA plan can use the OEP, but only during the first three months that they have both Part A and Part B. Those enrolled in stand-alone prescription drug plans are not eligible for the OEP election because the OEP is only available to those enrolled in an MA plan.

Some individuals may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Depending on certain circumstances, you may be able to enroll in a Medicare plan outside of Initial Enrollment Period or Open Enrollment Period time frames.