Medicare Enrollment

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. Any changes you make take effect on January 1.

During this window you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
• Change Medicare Advantage plans
• Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription plan

From January 1 through March 31, people already in a Medicare Advantage plan have a second chance to make a change.

During this window you can:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan
• Drop Medicare Advantage and go back to Original Medicare
• Add a standalone Part D plan if you go back to Original Medicare

Certain life events open a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) so you can make changes outside the normal windows. Common examples:

• Moving out of your plan's service area
• Losing employer or union coverage
• Qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help
• Your plan ending or changing its contract with Medicare

Each fall, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It spells out what's different about your coverage for the next year.

Things to look at carefully:

• Premiums, deductibles, and copays
• Whether your doctors and pharmacies are still in network
• Whether your prescriptions are still covered, and at what tier
• Any new benefits or benefits being removed

A simple checklist before you make a decision:

• List your doctors and hospitals you want to keep
• List your current prescriptions and preferred pharmacy
• Think about expected care for the next year
• Consider travel and any time spent out of state
• Look at total expected cost — not just the premium

When you're ready, Birch can walk through it with you, compare options, and help you decide what fits.