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Open Enrollment Period

by David Bynon, last updated

What is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

During the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP), Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan members can change, switch, or drop a plan they chose during the Annual Election Period. OEP starts on January 1 and ends on March 31.1Medicare.gov, “Joining a health or drug plan“, Accessed September 25, 2021

Key Takeaways

  • The OEP allows Medicare Advantage plan and Medicare Part D members to make a change to their plan.
  • Medicare Advantage members can switch plans, drop a plan, and switch to Medicare Part A and Part B during the OEP.
  • Medicare Part D members can switch between or drop their prescription drug plans.
  • The Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage is not the same as the Annual Enrollment Period and General Enrollment Period.

Medicare Advantage plan members can switch between Advantage plans or drop Advantage for Medicare Part A and Part B, and optionally Part D. Medicare Part D members can change drug plans or drop them altogether.1Medicare.gov, “Joining a health or drug plan“, Accessed September 25, 2021

The OEP is not the same thing as the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), nor is it the same as the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). These enrollment periods have different purposes and different rules for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D members.1Medicare.gov, “Joining a health or drug plan“, Accessed September 25, 2021

The OEP allows Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D members to make a single plan change1Medicare.gov, “Joining a health or drug plan“, Accessed September 25, 2021. If beneficiaries are dissatisfied with a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, or they unwittingly enrolled in a wrong plan during the fall Annual Enrollment Period, they are not stuck with it for a year. They may be able to take advantage of the OEP to shop around for a plan, but they can only make that change once.

The Open Enrollment Period is also not the same thing as the Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B can add, switch, or cancel a Medigap policy at any time. If a beneficiary does not have guaranteed issue rights, medical underwriting may be required.

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