Annual Enrollment Period and Open Enrollment Period

The Annual Enrollment Period, (AEP), or Annual Coordinated Election Period describes the annual Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage, (MA), plan enrollment period starting October 15th and continuing through December 7th.   During the AEP, you can change, add, or drop your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan.  Coverage for your chosen plan will begin on January 1st.  Starting in 2019, we will have the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, (OEP), that is replacing the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP).  The Medicare Advantage OEP begins January 1st and continues through March 31st.  Changes in coverage during the OEP take effect the first day of the month following the change.

As noted by Medicare, the OEP will allow people "enrolled in an MA plan, including newly MA‐eligible individuals, to make a one‐time election to go to another [Medicare Advantage] plan" — or to leave their Medicare Advantage plan, join a stand‐alone Medicare Part D plan, and return to Original Medicare Part A and Part B...  For example, an individual enrolled in an MA‐PD plan may use the OEP to switch to: (1) another MA‐PD plan; (2) an MA‐only plan; or (3) Original Medicare with or without a PDP.  The OEP will also allow an individual enrolled in an MA‐only plan to switch to — (1) another MA‐only plan; (2) an MA‐PD plan; or (3) Original Medicare with or without a PDP.  However, this enrollment period does not allow for Part D changes for individuals enrolled in Original Medicare, including those with enrollment in stand‐alone PDPs. "