Joining a plan

You can only join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Medicare drug plan (Part D) at certain times, called enrollment periods.

When to join a Medicare health or drug plan

Enrollment period:	You can:	Coverage starts:
Initial Enrollment Period (new to Medicare) Starts 3 months before you get Medicare and ends 3 months after you get Medicare.	Join any plan. You need both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) to join a Medicare Advantage Plan. You need either Part A or Part B to join a Medicare drug plan.	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 as when your Medicare starts. 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 (only if you get Part B after your Part A coverage starts) The 3 months before your Part B starts.	Join any Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.	The same day as when your Part B coverage starts.
Open Enrollment Period October 15-December 7.	Join, drop, or switch to another plan. (You can add or drop drug coverage.)	January 1 of the next year.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (only if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan) January 1 –March 31. The first 3 months after you get Medicare and you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan.	Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage. Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and go back to Original Medicare. You can also join a Medicare drug plan.	First of the month after the plan gets your request.
Special Enrollment Period Varies. Only for certain situations that happen in your life, like you move to a new address, you lose or have a change to your current coverage, you have Medicaid or get Extra Help paying drugs costs, and more.	Varies. Generally, you can join or switch to another plan.	Varies. Generally the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

How to join a Medicare health or drug plan

 

1. Find out which plans are available in your area:

– Compare plans in your area – Find out what they cost and services they provide.

– Talk to a trusted agent or broker.

2. Make sure the plan meets your needs:

– Check if the plan covers your prescriptions and includes the benefits you need.

– Ask your doctors if they’re in the plan’s network.

– Review costs, like monthly premiums, deductibles, and the estimate of your yearly costs for drugs you take.

– If you have other health insurance or drug coverage, talk to your benefits administrator or other insurance provider before you make any changes to your current coverage.

3. Join the plan

If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 616-600-8444 or fill out a “Contact Us” form in the right top of the page or “Get Help Now” in the left corner of the page. We will gladly make Medicare easy for you.

Source of information www.medicare.gov

More information:

Choosing a Medicare plan

Working with a Medicare broker