Does Medicare Have Open Enrollment

Is There A Penalty For Not Having Insurance

There is no federal government penalty for being uninsured in 2021, but you still need coverage!

The ACAs federal individual mandate penalty has been $0 since the start of 2019, and that continues to be the case in 2021. People who are uninsured do not face a penalty, unless theyre in a state that has its own individual mandate and a penalty for non-compliance. Four states and DC impose tax penalties for not having health insurance:

• Massachusetts
• District of Columbia

What Is Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare open enrollment is a designated window of time each year when individuals can make changes to their Medicare coverage.

Open enrollment is primarily for people who already have Medicare. New applicants should sign up during their initial enrollment period, which starts three months before they turn 65 and ends three months after the month they turn 65. If they miss their initial enrollment period, they can sign up during open enrollment.

The fall open enrollment period for Medicare begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7 in 2021. This enrollment period is open to people who are covered by:

• Medicare Part A
• Medicare Part B
• Original Medicare

A separate Medicare open enrollment period applies to people who are covered by a Medicare Advantage plan . The open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 each year.

Does Humana Replace Medicare

It can be said that a Humana Medicare Advantage plan replaces Medicare in a sense. You will still be technically enrolled in Original Medicare and must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premiums, as Original Medicare enrollment is a requirement for Medicare Advantage enrollment. This is true not just for Humana but for all Medicare Advantage plans provided by all insurance carriers.

But while you will still be technically enrolled in Original Medicare, your benefits will come from your Humana Medicare Advantage plan.

In the case of a Humana Medicare Part D plan, your Humana plan is not replacing your Original Medicare coverage. Medicare Part D plans provide coverage for prescription drug coverage and are used in addition to your Original Medicare benefits.

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What Cant You Do During Open Enrollment

However, not all plan changes can be made at this time. The main thing you may not able to do is buy a Medigap plan.

There are only certain times when you can add a Medigap policy to your plan. The Medigap enrollment periods are:

• Initial enrollment period. You are eligible to apply for a Medicare plan, and add a Medigap policy during the 3 months before, 3 months after, and month of your 65th birthday.
• Open enrollment period. If you miss initial enrollment, you can apply for a policy during the Medigap open enrollment period. If youve already turned age 65, this period begins when you enroll in Part B. If youre turning age 65, this period runs until 6 months after your turn 65 years old and have enrolled in Part B. During this enrollment period, youre guaranteed to be accepted by a Medigap plan and to get a good rate.

You may be able to buy Medigap plans outside of these windows. However, you wont have the same guarantees. Insurance companies arent required to sell you a Medigap policy, especially if youre under age 65. And after your enrollment window, Medigap plans can deny your application or charge you a much higher rate.

When You First Get Medicare

I’m newly eligible for Medicare because I turned 65.

What can I do?

Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan and/or a Medicare drug plan.

When?

During the 7-month period that:

• Starts 3 months before the month you turn 65
• Includes the month you turn 65
• Ends 3 months after the month you turn 65

If you join

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When Can I Join Switch Or Drop A Plan

You can join, switch, or drop a

with or without drug coverage during these times:

• Initial Enrollment Period. When you first become eligible for Medicare, you can join a plan.
• Open Enrollment Period. From October 15 December 7 each year, you can join, switch, or drop a plan. Your coverage will begin on January 1 .
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. From January 1 March 31 each year, if youre enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare once during this time.

Learn more below about enrollment periods below.

Original Medicare Vs Medicare Advantage Plans

• Allows you to use any doctor, hospital, or health care provider that is enrolled in Medicare and accepting new Medicare patients.

• Includes both Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.

• No need to choose a new primary care doctor, and referrals are generally not required to see a specialist.

• Generally means paying a deductible and copays or coinsurance, along with premiums for Medicare Part B.

• Medicare Part D coverage is not included.

• Typically requires you to use doctors, hospitals, or health care providers that are in-network. Visiting out-of-network providers may trigger a fee.

• Plans must cover the same things that are covered by Medicare Parts A and B.

• You may need a referral to see a specialist.

• Out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, though plans may cap what you’ll need to pay annually.

• Most plans include Medicare Part D coverage for drugs.

When comparing Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, it’s important to consider what’s covered and what you’ll pay. Most people do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A coverage. The standard premium for Medicare Part B in 2021 is $148.50, though your premium may be higher based on your income.

Both Parts A and B have deductibles and coinsurance. For Part A they are as follows:

For Medicare Part B deductibles, you pay $203. After your deductible is met, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services including inpatient care, outpatient therapy, and durable medical equipment.

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When Is Open Enrollment If I Get Health Insurance Through My Work

If you get health insurance through work, your employer sets the open enrollment period. Its typically in the fall so that your benefits can start at the beginning of the calendar year. Choosing a health care plan for the year ahead is an important decision during open enrollment. Take some time to explore your options to help you decide what coverage is best for you before you enroll.

• Read 3 tips for choosing a health insurance plan through work

Why You Need To Take Advantage Of Medicare Open Enrollment

Each year, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to make changes to their insurance coverage during open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through to Dec. 7. The changes you make during open enrollment will take effect the following year.

During open enrollment, you’re allowed to alter which Medicare health plan and which prescription drug plan you’re signed up for. You can also change from traditional Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, otherwise known as Medicare Part C. Medicare Advantage Plans replace traditional Medicare and are operated by private insurance companies. They can sometimes provide more coverage than traditional Medicare does.

Medicare Part B costs are soaring: Here’s what you’ll pay in 2022

As a retiree, it’s crucial to take the opportunity made available once per year to make certain that your Medicare coverage is well-aligned to your medical needs. There are two big reasons what that’s so important:

Open enrollment provides the only chance you have all year to make sure that your insurance coverage is well-aligned with your needs so you don’t end up not being covered for the providers you’re working with or spending much more out of pocket for services due to an increased need for healthcare.

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What To Do If You Miss Fall Medicare Open Enrollment

If you have missed the Fall Medicare Open Enrollment period, there is a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which lasts from January 1 to March 31 every year. During this other Medicare Open Enrollment period, you can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, and you may go back to Original Medicare. If you return to Part A and Part B coverage, you can usually enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. Keep in mind that this Medicare Open Enrollment period is only for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

In certain situations, you may qualify for a Special Election Period to make changes to your Medicare Advantage and/or prescription drug coverage outside of the Fall Medicare Open Enrollment or Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. These situations usually involve loss of or changes in coverage, such as a Medicare Advantage plan losing its contract with Medicare, or your moving outside your current plans service area.

This website and its contents are for informational purposes only. Nothing on the website should ever be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult with your medical provider regarding diagnosis or treatment for a health condition, including decisions about the correct medication for your condition, as well as prior to undertaking any specific exercise or dietary routine.

New To Medicare?

Enrolling In Medicare Part D

The first opportunity for Medicare Part D sign up is when youre initially eligible for Medicare during the seven-month period beginning three months before the month you turn 65, or during the seven-month period beginning three months before your 25th month of disability.

In both of these cases whether youre turning 65 or are eligible for Medicare because of a disability you likely have the option of selecting a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D prescription drug coverage, and using that in place of Medicare A, B, and D

If you enroll in Medicare during the , you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan between April 1 and June 30. But if you already had premium-free Medicare Part A and youre just using the General Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B, youll have to wait until the fall open enrollment period to sign up for a stand-alone Part D plan. This is because Part D can be purchased when you have Part A or Part B, whereas Medicare Advantage requires you to have both. So if youve already had premium-free Part A, you were eligible for Part D as of when your Part A coverage took effect. But your eligibility for Medicare Advantage would only begin when youre enrolled in both Part A and Part B.

If youre enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and use the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period to switch to Original Medicare, youll also have the option to sign up for a Part D plan to supplement your Original Medicare coverage.

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The Enrollment Period Runs Between Oct 15 And Dec 7

Medicare beneficiaries may want to use the time of open enrollment to assess their current coverage and consider changes if necessary.

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Medicares open enrollment period is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 and its an important deadline for beneficiaries to remember.

Open enrollment is the time in which current Medicare beneficiaries can make any changes to their coverage, such as adding or dropping a plan. Its a time when people can also switch to Medicare Advantage, which is Medicare-approved health insurance provided by a private company, or choose between Medicare Advantage and a supplement plan. When beneficiaries make no changes, their current elections continue into the following year.

Selecting the proper healthcare insurance is crucial, made even more apparent by the coronavirus crisis. Healthcare expenses tend to rise every year, especially for older Americans, who may be at risk of multiple chronic illnesses or ailments.

There are also myriad coverage options for people 65 and older under Medicare according to Ari Parker, head Medicare adviser and co-founder of Chapter, a company that specializes in maximizing Medicare coverage, there are more than 24,000 plan options across the U.S. And healthcare is changing, too. What we have seen, theres been a greater focus on telemedicine, he said. He and his team work with individuals to find the proper health insurance plan, which may include finding doctors in-network who accept $0 copays for telehealth.

Do Some People Get A Second Open Enrollment Period For Medigap

There are very few situations where a beneficiary will get a second Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

One reason a beneficiary on Medicare due to disability would choose not to enroll during their first Medigap OEP is having minimal options due to their age. Not all states require carriers to offer at least one Medigap plan to people under 65.

In fact, most states with the requirement only offer Plan A to those under 65. If someone who originally qualified due to disability waits to enroll in a Medigap plan until they turn 65, theyll be able to choose from all the policies available to them in their state.

Another reason a beneficiary on Medicare collecting SSDI would not enroll in a Medigap plan during their first Medicare Supplement OEP is that the premiums are too expensive. Unfortunately, most states have astronomical Medigap premiums for those under 65. Once they age into Medicare and their second OEP begins, the rates quoted will be much more affordable.

Recommended Reading: Does Medicare Supplement Cover Drugs

Should I Sign Up For Multiple Types Of Medicare

There arent really multiple types of Medicare, but there are various Medicare plan options to consider. You can read more about the types of Medicare coverage in this article about budgeting for health insurance.

Do you have more questions? Connect with any of our licensed insurance agents to discuss a Medicare plan that may be right for you.

*The online enrollment figures included in this report are based on submitted applications for MA and Medigap products during the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2018. This includes the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which ran from October 1 through December 7 in both years. Unless otherwise noted, MA and Medicare Advantage are used in this report to refer to all Medicare Advantage products, including those that offer prescription drug coverage .

The product and service descriptions, if any, provided on these eHealth web pages are not intended to constitute offers to sell or solicitations in connection with any product or service. All products are not available in all areas and are subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealths Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage. Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.

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What Can You Change During Medicare Open Enrollment

During the Medicare open enrollment period, there are a number of changes you can make to your existing coverage.

Specifically, you can use the Medicare open enrollment window to:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare
• Change from your existing Medicare Advantage plan to a different one
• Change your existing Medicare Part D drug coverage to a different plan
• Remove Medicare Part D coverage

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans during the open enrollment period that extends from Jan. 1 to March 31. During this time, you could also opt to switch to Original Medicare and enroll in Medicare Part D.

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When Can I Enroll In Medicare If I Am Not Receiving Retirement Benefits

If you are not yet receiving retirement benefits and are close to turning 65, you can sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B during your IEP. If you decide to delay your Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement Benefits beyond age 65, there is an option to enroll in just Medicare and apply for retirement benefits at a later time.

Who Is Eligible For Medicare

You are eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B at age 65 if:

• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for five continuous years
• You or your spouse have worked long enough to be eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits
• You or your spouse are government employees or retirees who have not paid into Social Security but have paid Medicare payroll taxes

You can meet Medicare eligibility under 65 if you:

• Have been receiving Social Security disability benefits or certain Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for at least 24 months
• You have ALS
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease and you or your spouse have paid Social Security taxes for a certain length of time

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Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Enrollment

When youre eligible to enroll in Original Medicare, you also become eligible to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

If you want Medicare prescription drug coverage, you typically have two options:

• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage
• Enroll in a Medicare Part D standalone prescription drug plan

Or call 1-800-557-6059TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

You can also enroll in a prescription drug plan online in as little as 10 minutes when you visit MyRxPlans.com.1