The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is an annual period of time (October 15 through December 7) when current Medicare users can choose to re-evaluate part of their Medicare coverage (their Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plan) and compare it against all the other plans on the market. After re-evaluating, if you find a plan that is a better fit for your needs, you can then switch to, drop or add a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Medicare Advantage is also known as a “Part C” plan.

You cannot use Open Enrollment to enroll in Part A and/or Part B for the first time. For more information on all of the parts of Medicare, and when you can enroll in them, visit our Medicare coverage map.

What you can do during the Open Enrollment Period (OEP):

• Anyone who has (or is signing up for) Medicare Parts A or B can join or drop a Part D prescription drug plan.
• Anyone with Original Medicare (Parts A & B) can switch to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Anyone with Medicare Advantage can drop it and switch back to just Original Medicare (Parts A & B).
• Anyone with Medicare Advantage can switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan.
• Anyone with a Part D prescription drug plan can switch to a new Part D prescription drug plan.

NCOA’s MyMedicareMatters® website features a comprehensive guide to Open Enrollment and you can find the guide here.