Medicare Advantage open enrollment period / annual election period (Medicare Advantage & Part D)

October 15 – December 7

Enrollment / plan change options:

Medicare Advantage open enrollment period 

January 1 – March 31

Enrollment / plan change options:

• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Change from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare plus a Part D plan
• You can only make one change during this open enrollment period (as opposed to the fall enrollment period when you can change your mind multiple times if necessary).

General enrollment period (Part A and Part B)

January 1 – March 31

• Enrollment / plan change options:

• General enrollment for Part B – for people who didn’t sign up when they were first eligible. A late enrollment penalty may apply.
• Part A general enrollment period – for people who have to pay premiums for Medicare Part A and didn’t sign up when first eligible (Late enrollment penalty may apply.)
• Note that the GEP is not an opportunity to change from one plan to another. It simply allows people to sign up for Medicare Part B (and Part A, if they have to pay a premium) if they didn’t enroll when they were initially eligible and haven’t qualified for a special enrollment period.
• Beneficiaries who enroll in Medicare Parts A and B during the general enrollment period can also enroll in a Part D plan to supplement their coverage, OR enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Access to Medigap plans will vary depending on state laws. (Click on a state on this map to see how Medigap plans are regulated.