Medicare Enrollment / Disenrollment 2012-2013

Timing really matters when it comes to your Medicare options. Sure, you can wait until later, but you may face financial disadvantages (late enrollment penalty) for doing so.

Many people are confused by the different ‘enrollment periods’ when it comes to Medicare, so let’s look at the General Enrollment period in this article.

The General Enrollment period is an important date for everybody who is eligible for Medicare. It is made for persons who did not enroll for Medicare Part B (doctors’ services) or Part D (Prescription drug coverage) during their 7-month initial enrollment period (when they first became eligible for Medicare).

The Medicare general enrollment period is each year from January 1 through March 31. If you have rejected Medicare Part B before, or have canceled it, you may enroll again during this period of time. Once you have enrolled, your coverage will start on July 1.

Note that there is a penalty for each 12-month period that you missed to have Part B while you were eligible. Your Part B premium may go up as much as 10 percent, and you will need to pay this extra 10% for all future as long as you stay enrolled!

There is also a 10% penalty if you enroll late in Medicare Part A – however this only applies to those who have to pay a monthly premium for Part A, because neither they nor their spouse contributed to Social Security.… Read more

When you first become eligible for Medicare (when you turn 65, or if you are disabled), you will automatically be enrolled in original Medicare Part A and Part B if you are receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). You have an Initial Enrollment Period of seven months (3 months before and after you become eligible) to add additional Medicare health care coverage with an Advantage plan, or Supplemental Insurance (Medigap policies) and/or a Prescription Drug plan.

Important dates to enroll in, switch or cancel a Medicare plan in 2012 are:

• January 1 through February 14, 2012 - Members of Medicare Advantage Plans can elect to dis-enroll from their current plan and return to original Medicare. Attention: To have Medicare help pay for your prescription drugs, you have to be enrolled in a Part D plan.
• January 1 through March 31, 2012 – General Enrollment Period for Original Medicare (Part A and B). If you didn’t sign up for Part A and/or Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period when you first became eligible, you can sign up between January 1 through March 31 each year. Your coverage will begin July 1. You may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment.

… Read more

Initial Enrollment, General Enrollment, Open Enrollment, Special Enrollment – those Medicare terms are confusing to many consumers. In the following, we will explain the differences and your options to enroll in Medicare health plans.

When Can I Enroll in Medicare Part A and B?

If you already receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you will automatically be enrolled in Part A and Part B on the first day of the month of your 65th birthday, or the first day of the month before if you are born on the first of a month. If you are under 65 and disabled, you automatically get Part A and Part B after you get disability benefits from Social Security or certain disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months. Slightly different rules apply if you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/Lou Gehrig’s disease or live in Puerto Rico. You will know that you are enrolled when you receive your Medicare card in the mail.

If you are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, for example if you are still working or have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you need to sign up yourself. You can either apply online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly/, or visit or call your local Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).… Read more

Each year, when Medicare Open Enrollment comes around, it is the time to double-check your Medicare and prescription drug plans for the following year. In 2012, Medicare Enrollment for the 2013 season is from October 15th to December 7, 2012. Even if you your current Medicare advantage plan and your drug prescription benefits are working for you, it’s a good idea to check your plan every year. The only way to save on your health care costs is to regularly compare your current plan to other Medicare advantage plans available to you, either offered by your provider or by other health insurance companies.

The first step is to re-assess your health care needs. Have a look at your current drug prescriptions and how often you currently see your health care providers. Did you get any notices from your plan provider about changes to your plan? Make a list with your current medical needs and all that has changed since you last enrolled in your Medicare plan. Even when you like to keep your current coverage, it may be time to make a change to your plan, because a similar plan may offer you even more benefits or lower costs. As the competition in the Medicare insurance sector among private insurers is heavy, plan benefits and premiums are constantly changing, which benefits the consumers.… Read more

NEW: 5-Star Special Enrollment Period:

New in 2012, you can now join or switch to a 5-star Medicare plan at any time during the year.

• You can only switch to a 5-star Medicare plan if one is available in your area.
• You can only use this period to switch to a 5-star Medicare plan one time each year.

Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period 2012:

January 1, 2012 – February 14, 2012

During the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period you can switch from a Medicare private health plan (also known as a Medicare Advantage plan) to Original Medicare. Regardless of whether the Medicare private health plan had drug coverage, you can join a stand-alone prescription drug plan, but you are not required to. Changes made during the MADP go into effect the first day of the following month.

What you can do:

• If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare.
• If you switch to Original Medicare during this period, you will have until February 14 to also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form.

… Read more

The Medicare open enrollment for 2013 will be from October 15th to December 7th, 2012, so mark your calendar!

The Open Enrollment period is the time when senior citizens and the disabled on Medicare are able to determine whether or not their current Medicare coverage is working for them. If are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan, and you feel that you may receive adequate or better health care at the same or a lower premium by switching your plan, you can change your plan during the Open Enrollment period.

Although persons who are eligible for Medicare, but are currently not enrolled in Medicare Advantage or a Medicare prescription drug plan, have during the open enrollment period the opportunity to enroll in a plan.

Lastly, if you want to cancel your existing Medicare prescription drug or Advantage plan, you can do so during this period of time.

Especially when it comes to prescription drugs, it is prudent to have additional coverage on top of your traditional Medicare plan. If you don’t have a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescription drugs, Medicare Part D is very important to have.

If you miss your annual window of opportunity, you need to wait until the next open enrollment period in the following year.… Read more