Posted on September 15, 2022 by Larry Johnson
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Posted on September 15, 2022 by Larry Johnson
Do you have questions about this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period? Give our licensed agents a call today at (800) 950-0608. They’re always happy to help you explore your options!
If you’re about to turn 65, odds are that you’re mulling options about how you’ll cover future medical and healthcare expenses. Do you keep the insurance you have? Do you enroll in a new private plan? Or, do you decide to enroll in a Medicare plan?
Some seniors ultimately decide to keep their current plans, while others opt to find new private plans or forego insurance altogether. Most, however, choose to enroll in a Medicare plan when they become of age to do so. If you’re one of those seniors choosing Medicare, you may be wondering how and when you’ll be able to enroll in a Medicare plan.
There are numerous Medicare enrollment periods. Some, such as the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) or Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs), have rolling timelines. Others offer a three-month period during which you can enroll in a new Medicare plan, change your existing coverage, or switch plans altogether. The yearly Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is one of these three-month time periods.
Are you a newcomer to the world of Medicare? If so, the enrollment process can seem very complex and confusing. At MedicareInsurance.com, demystifying the process of Medicare enrollment is all in a day’s work! Let’s take a look at what you can or can’t do during AEP, as well as how you can prepare for the 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period.
One thing that few people know about Medicare enrollment periods is that not all of them are set at fixed time periods. For example, did you know that your Initial Enrollment Period starts three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after you turn 65? Sure, that’s a long window of time to enroll in a plan – seven months – but it comes and goes quickly if you don’t know about it.
The timeframe of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is much easier to remember. Like the Open Enrollment Period, AEP lasts for around three months. The 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period starts on October 15, 2022 and ends on December 7, 2022. For those of you who may have missed your IEP, the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is the time to enroll in Original Medicare, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, if you so choose. You can also enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during this time.
It’s very likely that many of you reading this are already enrolled in some type of Medicare plan. If so, you’re probably wondering if you can change your coverage during AEP. Those of you looking to change your coverage for any reason will be happy to learn that you can indeed change plans or add coverage during AEP!
Let’s say that you’ve been enrolled in Original Medicare for a while. You’re happy with your plan, but you need more coverage. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period gives you the opportunity to switch to a Medicare Advantage plan that offers the coverage you need. You can also add a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan to your existing coverage at this time if you need help paying for prescription medications.
If you’re planning to enroll in Original Medicare during AEP, there are three ways to do so:
Before you start the process, make sure you have documents on hand that can prove the following:
To prove the above, you can provide any of the following extra documentation when prompted to do so during the application process:
If you’re looking to sign up for a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medigap supplemental insurance plan, you’ll need to find a private insurance provider that offers these plans. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap are not offered by the federal government. Instead, they are offered by insurance carriers authorized and contracted by the federal government to sell Medicare plans.
Wondering how you can find a private provider that offers Medicare plans? Enter your zip code into our free plan finder tool below to get started.
During the 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, you’ll have roughly three months to sign up for a Medicare plan if you’re interested in doing so. Three months sounds like a lot of time, but it passes in the blink of an eye. You can easily spend that time getting your documents together to submit during the application process if you haven’t gathered them already!
If you’re still interested in signing up for a Medicare plan during AEP, but you’re feeling the pressure of the time crunch, give yourself a little room to breathe. Fortunately, you still have close to a month to prep and gather anything you’ll need to fill out your application. Remember, the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period doesn’t start until October 15th. This means you still have time to get everything you need together!
Larry Johnson
Larry is a content writer with several years of experience in creating informative content for a variety of industries on topics that matter. He is a 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.