Annual Disenrollment Period

Now that Open Medicare Enrollment has ended, 2012 brings a new period for Medicare beneficiaries known as Annual Disenrollment Period.

Annual Disenrollment Period is a generally new addition to Medicare, so we thought we would take a moment to clear up any confusion you may have about the time period.

Annual Disenrollment is a time for Medicare Advantage customers to drop or “disenroll” from their Medicare Advantage plans and revert back to Original Medicare. The dates for Annual Disenrollment Period run from January 1st, 2012, through February 14, 2012.

Options during Annual Disenrollment Period:

Prescription Drug Coverage During Annual Disenrollment Period

Typically You can enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan if you’ve recently become of Medicare age (3 months before and 3 months after the month you turn 65, to be specific) or during Medicare Open Enrollment, which ended on December 7th, 2011. So if you disenroll from Medicare Advantage during Annual Disenrollment and wish to sign up for senior prescription drug coverage, you should be elegible for a special enrollment period (SEP) to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan.

Medicare Supplement Insurance

If you plan on dropping your Medicare Advantage coverage, you’ll likely be losing benefits, which may affect your senior health insurance budget. A good option at this time is to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan. Going back to original Medicare means you are eligible for a Medigap Plan. These types of plans offer a list options to compensate for benefits you may be losing from disenrolling in Medicare Advantage as well as offer to you benefits you could not receive with Medicare Advantage, like the freedom to go to any doctor who accepts Medicare.

You can enroll for a Medigap insurance plan at any time, but certain times are better than others.
To learn more about the best time to enroll in Medigap Insurance, watch this short informational video on our YouTube channel.

Also, you can fill out your zip code in the box below to receive your free Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan quote from one of our licensed Medigap state managers.