Medicare Open

Enrollment for 2014

 

A summary of what

you need to know.

 

 

Medicare Open Enrollment has arrived. The open enrollment period for 2014 runs from October 15-December 7, 2013. This is not only a period where you may enroll for the program, but also switch providers for your comprehensive health and drug coverage.1

 

Some key dates to remember. This fall and winter, there are three periods in which Medicare beneficiaries can either enroll or disenroll in forms of coverage:

• Now through December 7: Open enrollment period. This is when you can elect to leave Original Medicare (Parts A and B) for a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and change your prescription drug coverage (Part D). You can also elect to get out of a Part C plan and go back to Parts A and B during this period.1,2 

• December 8: Annual enrollment period begins for 5-star plans.As you probably know, Part C and Part D plans are assigned ratings. Beginning December 8, 2013 and ending November 30, 2014, a window opens for you to enroll in a 5-star Part C or Part D plan. You can do this once per 365 days. How do you find the 5-star plans? Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan.2,3 

• January 1-February 14: Disenrollment period. If you join a Part C plan in late 2013 and want to reverse that decision, you can disenroll from that Medicare Advantage plan in this window of time and go back to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).2,3

Do you have to enroll in Medicare through the new health insurance exchanges? No. Medicare isn't part of that. If you have Medicare, you are already insured in the eyes of the federal government. You don't have to make any changes to your Medicare coverage because of the implementation of the exchanges, and your Medicare benefits won't change as a result of them, whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan through an HMO or PPO.4

 

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Citations.

1 - cms.gov/Center/Special-Topic/Open-Enrollment-Center.html [10/11/13]

2 - medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan/five-star-enrollment/5-star-enrollment-period.html [10/11/13]

3 - medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan.html#collapse-3192 [10/11/13]

4 - q1medicare.com/PartD-Important-Dates-To-RememberPartD.php [9/13]