What is Medicare Open Enrollment Period?
Posted on February 2, 2022
Medicare Open Enrollment Period – January 1 through March 31
Did you know that Medicare offers beneficiaries who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan one last opportunity to switch their plan during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP)?
The Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. During this time, if a Medicare Beneficiary is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan they are unhappy with, they can still make a change to their plan.
What does this mean for your practice?
If you have patients who may have chosen the wrong Medicare Advantage plan (i.e., one that your practice does not accept), please remind them of the Medicare Advantage plans that you do accept (Health New England, etc.). Also, remind them that they have the opportunity to change plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment period.
To make a change, a Medicare beneficiary can call the plan they wish to enroll in directly or by calling 1-800-Medicare.
Please share the following Health New England Medicare contact information with your patients. Our team of local experts is here to help them!
Health New England Medicare Contact Information
• Member Services – Toll-free: (877) 443-3314 | Local: (413) 787-0010 | TTY: 711
• Call or email the Medicare Team directly at (413) 233-3033 or msupport@hne.com.
• Learn more about our Medicare plans at healthnewengland.org/medicare.
Information for Patients about Medicare OEP
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) lasts from January 1 to March 31 every year.
During OEP, you can make certain changes to your Medicare Advantage plan coverage. Any changes you make to your plan during OEP will take effect on the first day of the following month after your current plan has processed your requested change.
During the Medicare Advantage OEP, you can make the following changes:
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Disenroll from your current Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare
• If you return to Original Medicare during OEP, you’ll also be able to join a Medicare Part D drug plan.Beneficiaries can only make one change during OEP. Once a change has been made during OEP, it cannot be changed again until the next Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which runs October 15 – December 7.
