Medicare Open Enrollment Dates for 2025 Coverage

Medicare open enrollment for 2024–2025 begins on October 15, 2024 and closes on December 7, 2024. During this time, people with Medicare can review their options and make changes to their coverage, such as switching between plans or electing a prescription drug plan. Any changes you make to your coverage during this time take effect on January 1, 2025. If you do not have Medicare, but qualify for it, your enrollment period will be slightly different.

To join a Medicare health plan, you generally must:

• Have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance)
• Live in the service area of the plan you want to join.
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S.
• Have your Medicare Number and your Part A and/or Part B coverage start dates. Find this information on your Medicare Card.

If these things apply to you, you can enroll in Medicare. Depending on your current coverage or circumstances, the dates in which you can enroll may vary. Some of the enrollment periods include:

Initial Enrollment Period

Begins when you turn 65, or are otherwise new to Medicare. Your initial enrollment period starts 3 months before you are eligible for Medicare and ends 3 months after you are eligible for Medicare. During this time, you can:

• Enroll for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance)
• Enroll for a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). You need Parts A and B to join a Part C plan
• Enroll for Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug). You need either Part A or Part B to join Part D

Coverage starting dates will vary depending on when the plan gets your request.

Open Enrollment Period

You can make any changes to your plan or enroll in a new plan between October 15 and December 7. During this time, you can:

• Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan
• Add or drop Medicare Part D coverage
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
• Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare

Coverage Starts January 1st of the next year.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

(only if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan)
January 1-March 31, or Within the first 3 months you get Medicare

• Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare.  You’ll also be able to join a separate Medicare drug plan.

 

How to join a Medicare health or drug plan

Knowing which plan for you can be difficult. Luckily, there’s a few things you can look for to know which plan may be better suited to you. We recommend checking for the following when comparing Medicare coverage:

• Coverage for your needs. For example, do you have medication that you take regularly? You can shop for Medicare Part D, or a Medicare Advantage Plan that has Part D included.
• Extra benefits. For example, Medicare Advantage Plans can offer things like gym memberships and flex cards.
• Costs. Compare monthly premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximums so that you know exactly what you can expect to pay.
• Doctors. If you have a specific doctor you like, ensure they are in network.
• Out-of-state coverage. If you live out of state for a part of the year, ensure you will be covered there.

If this sounds like a lot, you can speak to a licensed expert. They are able to talk to you about your needs and are licensed with providers to be able to provide you with a plan that best covers all of your health needs.

Supplemental Coverage for your Medicare Decisions

Medigap: Individuals with Medicare Parts A and B can apply for a Medigap policy at any time throughout the year. Medigap policies are designed to assist with Medicare’s deductibles and cost-sharing requirements, offering standardized benefits that make it easier to compare plans across different insurers. Beneficiaries with a Medigap plan that covers most of Medicare’s deductibles and cost-sharing might have lower out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services compared to those with other types of coverage, such as Medicare Advantage plans. Medigap policies complement traditional Medicare and do not work with Medicare Advantage. Therefore, those enrolled in Medicare Advantage neither need nor can purchase a Medigap policy.

Although Medigap insurers must issue policies to individuals aged 65 or older without considering their health status when they first enroll in Medicare, those with pre-existing conditions may face higher premiums or may be denied coverage if they apply after the initial six-month enrollment period in Part B. f individuals disenroll from Medicare Advantage within 12 months of their initial enrollment, they have the guaranteed right to purchase a Medigap policy regardless of their medical history. However, if they wait longer than 12 months, they might not secure guaranteed Medigap coverage and could face higher premiums or be denied a policy due to pre-existing conditions.

Medigap insurers are not federally mandated to offer policies to individuals under age 65 who qualify for Medicare due to long-term disability. However, some states require insurers to offer at least one Medigap policy to this group. Premiums for Medigap policies for those under 65 are often higher compared to premiums for individuals aged 65 and older. Once these individuals turn 65 and become age-eligible for Medicare, they will qualify for the six-month Medigap open enrollment period, allowing them to purchase any Medigap policy without facing higher premiums or denials due to existing medical conditions.

Employer-Sponsored Coverage: Although employer-sponsored retiree health benefits are declining, over 15 million people with Medicare still have retiree health coverage (distinct from those who are working and have Medicare Part A through their current employer or their spouse’s employer). Retiree health benefits may supplement either traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Some employers provide retiree health benefits exclusively through Medicare Advantage plans. If beneficiaries with retiree health coverage through Medicare Advantage switch to traditional Medicare during open enrollment, they may lose their retiree health benefits. Conversely, if employers offer retiree health benefits that supplement traditional Medicare and an individual switches to Medicare Advantage, they may also lose these benefits. Once a Medicare beneficiary drops their employer or union-sponsored retiree health benefits, they may not be able to reinstate them.