Important Medicare Dates to Remember
October - November —Review and Compare
Review: Your plan may change.
Review any notices from your plan about changes for next year. To learn more about your options download Medicare and You Guide.
Compare: In October, use Medicare’s tools to find a plan that meets your needs.
This is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can make changes to their health and prescription drug plans for the next year.
Decide: October 15 is the first day you can change your Medicare coverage for next year.
December 7—Open Enrollment Ends
In most cases, December 7 is the last day you can change your Medicare coverage for next year. The plan has to get your enrollment request (application) by December 7.
January 1—Coverage Begins
Your new coverage begins if you switched to a new plan. If you stay with the same plan, any changes to coverage, benefits, or costs for the new year will begin on the first of January.
Changes to your coverage after January 1
Between January 1–March 31, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare, or change to another Medicare Advantage Plan. This is considered your Medicare Open Enrollment Period. If you switch during this period, changes would be effective the first day of the following month, with March 31 being the last day to switch for April 1st.
