Medicare Enrollment 2012 Important Dates

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.
  
• October 15 through December 7, 2012 - Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and Prescription Drug Coverage Plans (Part D)
  During this time you are able to join a Medicare Part C or D plan for the 2013 season. Your plan will take effect on January 1, 2013 . If you already have a Medicare plan, this is the time to re-evaluate your health care needs and compare them to your current plan benefits. It is advisable to compare your current rates and coverage to other Medicare plan options on the market, so you can make an informed decision whether it is better to keep your current plan, or change your coverage for 2013. If you decide to stay with your current plan there is no further action required to renew it. If you do not make any changes or don’t enroll in a new plan during this period, you can’t do any changes to your coverage before October the following year.

Visit www.medicare.gov to get detailed and current information about your Medicare eligibility and enrollment options, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or TTY 1-877-486-2048.