Note: This information is included for educational purposes ONLY and no carrier-specific benefits or details are provided.

Please click here to learn more about Medicare Advantage (also called “Part C”) plans.

The primary times to enroll for Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are:

• during your initial enrollment period which is the seven month period beginning three months before and ending three months after your 65th birthday month (if you apply during the first three months and your birthday is after the first of the month, enrollment is effective as of the first of the month of your 65th birthday month); otherwise enrollment is effective the first of the following month; if your birthday is the first of the month the entire seven month period starts and ends one month earlier—your 65th birthday month is considered as the first of the preceding month; or

• during the annual enrollment period which starts October 15 and ends December  7; effective date of enrollment is the following January 1.  This is the time to review your present plans and coverages and decide if you want to make any changes.  Unless you have a special election period this is the only other time you can enroll in or change to a different Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription drug plan.

The new Medicare Advantage Disenrollment period which first started in 2011 runs from January 1 through February 14 and replaced the former Open Enrollment Period which ran from January 1 through March 31.  During the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment period you can disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.  You can also purchase a Part D Prescription Drug plan during this period, as well as a Medicare Supplement plan.  You can NOT switch between different Medicare Advantage plans during this period.

Medicaid beneficiaries; individuals on low income subsidy (help in paying for prescription drugs); people with chronic conditions like diabetes, chronic heart failure, COPD, and dementia (if a plan specializing in their condition exists in their service area); people moving out of a plan’s service area; and those affected by other situations (including plan termination or insolvency) are eligible for special election periods that permit them to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan outside of the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15—December 7) throughout the year.  Please call us for additional details including eligibility, available enrolment dates and help in enrolling.

Beginning December 8, 2011, a special enrollment period has been established that will permit eligible beneficiaries to enroll in a five-star plan at any point during the year.  Enrollment is the first of the month following the month the enrollment request is received and the special election can be used only one time during the year.

Federal law closely regulates how Medicare Advantage plans can be marketed and sold. You must initiate the request for an agent to discuss a Medicare Advantage plan with you, and, if you desire a face-to-face meeting, must complete a Scope of Appointment Form (also called a Sales Appointment Confirmation Form or other name by some carriers) before an agent can meet with you to discuss a Medicare Advantage plan with you.  Please call us at 877-738-1544 to request an applicable Scope of Appointment form. By calling this number, I understand I will be directed to a licensed insurance sales agent or broker.

Disclaimer: This is not a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing, please contact 1-800-MEDICARE or consult www.medicare.gov (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048).Hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.