Medicare Quotes (Continued)

Medicare Quotes & Enrolling

While you can receive Medicare quotes all the time, Medicare enrollment is only open at certain times. Understanding these enrollment options is critical to making sure you have a plan that suits you every year. Enrollment periods are a common time to receive Medicare quotes.

Initial Enrollment Period

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) occurs when you first become eligible for Medicare. For example, if you become eligible when turning 65, you can begin enrolling 3 months before the month of your 65th birthday. The enrollment period includes your birthday month and the following 3 months for a total of 7 months.

Keep in mind that you will need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. If you enroll in Part A but not Part B or end your Initial Enrollment Period without prescription drug coverage, you may be subject to fees for the rest of the time that you are on Medicare.

Annual Election Period

The Annual Election Period occurs each year from October 15 through December 7. This enrollment period is open to everyone who is enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. During this time, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan. You may also apply for a Medicare Supplement Plan, but these plans are subject to medical underwriting outside your Initial Enrollment Period.

The timing of the Annual Election Period allows you to review plan changes on a yearly basis and secure your coverage for the following year. You are not required to change your plan during this enrollment period or any enrollment period, unless your plan is disbanded or you are no longer eligible for it.

The Annual Election Period is typically a very busy time of year for insurance agents and carriers, so you may wish to request your Medicare quotes early in the period to ensure that you have plenty of time to review them and enroll in a plan.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) happens every year from January 1 through March 31. This enrollment period is only open to individuals who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan. During this time, you can drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and either enroll in a different Medicare Advantage Plan or return to Original Medicare only. If you choose to return to Original Medicare only, you will have the opportunity to enroll in a prescription drug plan so that you have coverage for your medications.

You may only change your plan once during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

Special Enrollment Periods

Special Enrollment Periods may occur at any point during the year, and they are triggered by special circumstances that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) have determined may require a change in your Medicare coverage. Some of these circumstances include:

• Moving (especially to a new zip code, which often indicates that you’ve left your plan’s coverage area)
• Leaving your work health insurance
• Returning from a nursing home, prison, or other institution
• Becoming eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare (dual eligible)
• Missing enrollment because of a FEMA-recognized emergency

Special Enrollment Periods have varying lengths, but many of them are 2-3 months from the point where you become eligible, such as when you move or when you leave your job.

A Calendar of Medicare Quotes & Enrollment Periods

• All year: receive a Medicare quote from a licensed insurance agent
• Once, when you become eligible: your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period
• January 1 - March 31: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
• April 1 - October 14: Special Enrollment Period, if you have applicable special circumstances
• October 15 - December 7: the Medicare Annual Election Period
• December 7 - December 31: Special Enrollment Period, if you have applicable special circumstances

Information You Need for a Medicare Quote

Preparing some information ahead of time may help you in quickly receiving Medicare quotes that apply to your situation. Consider gathering these pieces before you request a Medicare quote:

• Your Medicare card
• Your zip code
• A list of your doctors
• A list of your prescriptions
• Information about your current Medicare plan for comparison

It’s also useful to have a pen and notepad handy for recording information about the Medicare quotes you receive.

Find a Medicare Quote Now

Our easyMedicare.com licensed insurance agents represent a number of carriers and provide no-cost Medicare quotes. Call 1-800-991-4407 today from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday-Friday to receive your quote. An easyMedicare.com agent can assist you in narrowing down the plan selection based on your needs, finding out whether your doctors and prescriptions are covered, reviewing costs, and completing plan enrollment.

If you prefer a more do-it-yourself approach, you can review plan quotes through the Online Medicare Enrollment Portal. This multi-carrier portal allows you to find plans in your zip code, compare them side by side, and enroll in the plan of your choice. Search for your doctors and prescriptions, see the benefits and costs of each plan, and review the plan documents as desired.

Medicare Quote Recap

These are the key points we covered about Medicare quotes:

• There are 3 types of Medicare plans to get quotes for: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans
• A Medicare quote includes the benefits and costs of the plan, as well as the physician network or prescription formulary when applicable
• Anyone who is enrolled in Medicare may benefit from receiving quotes for several Medicare plans at least once a year
• You can receive Medicare quotes online or in no-cost phone consultations with a licensed insurance agent
• Although Medicare quotes are available year-round, there are specific Medicare enrollment periods offered throughout the year.
• Initial Enrollment: a 7-month period when you become eligible for Medicare
• Annual Election Period: October 15 - December 7
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 - March 31, only for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans
• Special Enrollment: Triggered at any point by special circumstances