medicare HEALTH INSURANCE

 Initial Enrollment Period:

•         New to Medicare:
• It begins three months before you get Medicare.
• It ends three months after you get Medicare.

You may join any plan if you have Part A and Part B.

• Part A (Hospital Insurance)

  It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.

  and 

• Part B (Medical Insurance) to join Medicare Advantage Plan

  Covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventative services. 

You need either Part A or Part B to join a Medicare Drug Plan

Coverage start date varies depending on when the plan gets your request.  

• If you request to join a plan before your Medicare starts, Your plan coverage starts the same day your Medicare begins.
• If you request to join a plan after your Medicare starts, Your plan coverage starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

Initial Enrollment Period:

•       New to Part B:
• Must obtain Part B after Part A coverage begins.

The three months before your Part B begins.

You may join any Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage.

• Your coverage begins the same day as when your Part B coverage begins.

Open enrollment period:

•     October 15 – December 7

During the enrollment period, you may join, drop, or switch to another plan, and you can add or drop your drug coverage.

• Your coverage begins January 1 of the following year.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period:

•  January 1 – March 31
• Must be currently participating in Medicare Advantage Plan.

You may:

• Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and go back to Original Medicare. J
• Join a Medicare drug plan. 

Coverage begins the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

Special enrollment period:

•     This applies to particular life circumstances such as:
• *Moving to a new address.
• *Losing or experiencing a change to your current medical coverage.
• *Have Medicaid or receive extra assistance paying drug costs, etc.

You may join or switch to another plan.

• Coverage usually begins the first of the month after the plan gets your request. Start dates may vary.