Its that time of year again! The Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare is just around the corner, starting on October 15th and ending on December 7th. This is the time designated for you to enroll in Medicare or to review your existing Medicare plans and make any necessary changes.
Who can get Medicare?
U.S. Citizens and legal residents who have lived in the United States for at least 5 years in a row, including the 5 years just before applying for Medicare.
You must also meet one of the following requirements to enroll in Medicare:
- Be age 65 or older
- Younger than 65 with a qualifying disability
- Any age with a diagnosis of ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease) or ALS.
Learn how to enroll in Medicare
You will be automatically enrolled if you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits when you become eligible. You’ll receive your Medicare card in the mail. if you are not receiving benefits, you will need to sign up for Medicare when you become eligible. You can contact your local Broker (Group Plans Inc) or go to SSA.gov/medicare to enroll online, or you can call or visit your local Social Security Office.
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
If you choose not to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan or stand-alone Medicare prescription drug coverage during your Initial Enrollment Period, which is the 3 months before and 3 months after your 65th birthday, you can also enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during the annual Fall Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).
AEP is also called the Medicare Annual Election Period and the Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage.
This period runs from October 15 to December 7 every year.
During the Fall Medicare Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage, you can also:
- Enroll in, make changes to or disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C)
- Enroll in, make changes to or disenroll from a Medicare Prescription Drug plan (Medicare Part D)
Plan changes you make during the 2020 Medicare Fall Annual Enrollment Period go into effect January 2021.