Yes. The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period isn’t your only opportunity to redeem your Medicare coverage. There are other possibilities, but when you can make these changes depends on your particular situation and the type of Medicare coverage you have. Here’s what you need to know.
Changing Medicare Advantage
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be able to use the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period, which occurs each year from
During this time, you can switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan or to original Medicare with or without a prescription drug plan. You can only make one change during this period, and it will take effect on the first of the following month after you make the change.
Special registration
Depending on your situation, you may also qualify for a special enrollment period to modify your Medicare health and drug coverage.
There are a number of circumstances in which you may have a special enrollment period, for example if you have moved outside of your plan’s service area, your Medicare Advantage plan has terminated a significant number of its network providers or if you are registered with a
Those on Extra Assistance — the federal program that helps pay for drug costs — also have a special enrollment period to enroll in a Part D plan or switch between plans once a quarter at during the first three quarters of the year.
If you need to make changes to your coverage but are unsure if you qualify for a special enrollment period, contact your
Also, be aware that if you enrolled in a Medicare plan by mistake or because of misleading information, you may be able to unenroll and switch plans.
Generally, you have the right to change plans if you joined unintentionally, based on incorrect or misleading information, or through no fault of yours, were kept in a plan you did not want.
For assistance, call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and tell a customer service representative how you joined the plan in error and request a retroactive opt-out or special enrollment period.
Registration open in the fall
As you noted in your question, there is also the open enrollment period in the fall that allows all Medicare beneficiaries – those with original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans – to make changes.
The fall open enrollment period takes place each year from
You can make as many changes as needed during this time, and your last choice of coverage will take effect
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