If you’re enrolling in Medicare for the first time, there’s a fairly straightforward process – and timeline — [Here’s what you need to know about enrolling for the first time, the steps you need to take, and what to expect in terms of costs.]
But beyond that first opportunity to enroll in Medicare plans, the federal government provides other windows for enrollment: annual opportunities to enroll if you’ve delayed your enrollment for some reason, or to change your coverage if you’ve already enrolled.
Here’s a quick guide to the times when you can enroll in – or change – Medicare coverage during the course of the year.
Dates: October 15, 2020 – December 7, 2020; changes effective January 2021 (the open enrollment period for 2020 coverage ended on December 7, 2019, but as described below, there are still opportunities for some enrollees to change their coverage for 2020).
Enrollment / plan change options:
Learn more about the Medicare open enrollment period.
Dates:
Enrollment / plan change options:
During this annual special enrollment period, you can join or switch to a five-star Medicare Advantage plan or Part D drug plan if you live in an area where a five-star plan is available (here is a list of the plans that have five stars for 2020).
Only applies to people who already have Medicare Advantage plans.
Dates: January 1 – March 31, 2020; Your plan change takes effect the month after you submit your enrollment.
Enrollment / plan change options:
Learn more about Medicare Advantage open enrollment.
Dates: January 1 – March 31, 2020; Coverage takes effect July 1.
Enrollment / plan change options:
Learn more about Medicare Part A.
Learn more about Medicare Part B.
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Louise Norris, January 4, 2020 – this article was originally posted on: