To qualify for the Annual Enrollment Period, you must be a Medicare beneficiary enrolled in Part A and Part B.
Qualifying for Medicare
Medicare beneficiaries are American citizens or lawful permanent residents of at least five years who are 65 or older or who have a disability and have been receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for a certain length of time, which is usually 24 months.
If you are already receiving retirement benefits from Social Security by the time you reach age 65 or are eligible to receive them but have not yet filed for them, you will benefit from reduced premiums for Medicare Part A. Premium-free Part A is also available for people who have been receiving disability benefits for at least two years.
Beneficiaries who are enrolled in Social Security at least four months before they turn 65 or who have been receiving disability benefits for 24 months are automatically enrolled in Medicare coverage. People with ALS receive Medicare the first month they begin receiving disability benefits.
The average Medicare beneficiary turning 65 will need to sign up for Medicare through Social Security, by calling Medicare, or by applying online at the official Medicare website. They have an initial enrollment period of seven months surrounding their 65th birthday to sign up. People with End Stage Renal Disease also qualify for Medicare if they are eligible for Social Security benefits, have worked long enough to earn Social Security benefits, or are the spouse or dependent child of someone who meets those criteria. Those with ESRD can sign up for Medicare beginning in their fourth month of a regular course of dialysis treatment or their first month of at-home dialysis treatment (if certain conditions are met).
Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B
In order to sign up for the plans available during the Annual Enrollment Period, you must already be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. Your eligibility for individual Medicare plans will depend on whether you live within the plan’s service area, and any pre-existing conditions may influence the price you pay in monthly premiums for your coverage.
If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and live within your desired plan’s service area, you can make the changes you wish to during the AEP.
Annual Enrollment Period
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), from October 15 to December 7, gives Medicare beneficiaries the opportunity to sign up for a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan, switch to a different Medicare plan, or drop their plan and return to Original Medicare.
To plan for your upcoming Medicare enrollment period, enlist the assistance of our team at Magellan Healthcare. We can help you compare your options to find the most coverage for the best price. Contact us today to book an appointment.
