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Important Dates to Remember
When Can I Join a Prescription Drug Plan?
(1) If you currently have Medicare Hospital or Medicare Medical Insurance (Parts A and/or B), you can enroll or re-enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Coverage (MA.PD) starting on November 15 through December 31 of each year.
This tIme period is called the Annual Coordinated Election Period and your newly chosen Medicare Part D plan begins on January 1of the following year.
TIP Please note, to ensure the smoothest possible transition into your new Medicare Part D plan, try to enroll well before the middle of December - this allows the insurance companies, CMS and Social Security time for the processing of your enrollment application.
So, for the 2009 Medicare Part D Plans, you can enroll between November 15 2008 and December 31, 2008. Your 2009 Plan will begin January 1, 2009. For the 2010 Plans, you can enroll between November 15, 2009 and December 31, 2009.See below for more plan year specific dates
(2) If you turn 65 or become eligible for Medicare outside of the Annual Coordinated Election Period, you have a seven (7) month window in which to enroll in the current year's plan (2009) and avoid any possible penalties:
- the three (3) months before the month of your eligibility (for instance, your Birthday month)
- the month of your eligibility (e.g. the month you turn 65)
- and, the three (3) months after the month you become eligible for Medicare (again, three months after your Birthday month).
Your coverage will begin either on the first day of your Birthday month or, when you join during or after your Birthday month, on the first day of the month after the month in which you join.
TIP Please note, to ensure the smoothest possible transition into your new Medicare Part D plan, try to enroll before the middle of the month - this allows time for the processing of your enrollment application.
:: General Medicare Part D Dates
:: 2009 Medicare Part D Dates
:: 2010 Medicare Part D Dates
General Medicare Part D Dates
- October 1 of each year - Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan Marketing Activities can begin for the next year's plan- At this time you will be able to once again gather information and evaluate the various Part D plan alternatives.
- Please note, no enrollments may be accepted before November 15th for plans starting in the new year (ex: On October 1, 2009, we will begin showing plan information for the plans that will become effective January 1, 2010). The only enrollments that can be accepted in October are those for people turning 65 (who want to enroll in a current year plan) or for Medicaid recipients wanting to change their current year plan.
- November 15 to December 31 of each year - Annual Coordinated Election Period - Here is your chance to join a Medicare Part D plan for the new plan year (however your plan will not take effect until January 1st of the new year ). If you already have a Medicare Part D plan, this is your time to look back over year and make another decision for your coverage for next year. Should you stay with your existing coverage or make a change? Here is your opportunity to decide. If you make no decision, you will remain in the same plan as you elected this year. There is no enrollment required to renew your present coverage. Don't wait until the last minute to make your decision! People who waited until the end of December also waited into January for the arrival of their Welcome Information. Bottom Line: Don't wait until the end of December to make your enrollment decision. (If you do not enroll during this period, your next chance for coverage is January of the year after next.)
- January 1 of each year - Your new Medicare Part D plan becomes effective and you will be able to begin using your Part D benefits (your old plan will automatically be discontinued).
- January 1 to March 31 of each year - Coordinating Special Enrollment Period (or SEP) - This special period is available for those people who enrolled into a Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Drug coverage (MA-PDs) and now wish to disenroll back to original Medicare coverage and a Prescription Drug Plan. As noted by CMS: "PDPs must accept enrollments for individuals enrolled in a MA-PD plan and who choose to elect Original Medicare during the MA OEP that occurs from January 1 through March 31. Since MA rules require these individuals to maintain prescription drug coverage, they MUST enroll in a PDP to accompany Original Medicare. This SEP allows MA-PD enrollees to enroll in a PDP and is limited to 1 enrollment."
- January 1 to December 31 of each year - Persons turning 65 can enroll in the current year Medicare Part D Plan. Medicaid recipients can enroll or change their enrollment in a current year Part D Prescription Drug plan.
See below for examples
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:: What is Our Family and Friends Suggestion?
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2009 Medicare Part D Dates
- October 1, 2008 - Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan Marketing Activities can begin for the 2009 Part D plans - At this time you will be able to once again gather information and evaluate the various Part D plan alternatives.
- Please note, no enrollments may be accepted before November 15, 2008 for 2009 plans.
- November 15 to December 31, 2008 - Annual Coordinated Election Period - Here is your chance to join a Medicare Part D plan for the 2009 plan year (however your plan will not take effect until January 1, 2009 ). If you already have a Medicare Part D plan, this is your time to look back over 2008 and make an enrollment decision for your coverage for 2009. Should you stay with your existing coverage or make a change? If you make no decision, you will remain in the same plan as you elected in 2008. There is no enrollment required to renew your present coverage. Don't wait until the last minute to make your decision! People who wait until the end of December also wait into January for the arrival of their Welcome Information. Bottom Line: Don't wait until the end of December to make your enrollment decision. (If you do not enroll during this period, your next chance for coverage is January 2010.)
- January 1, 2009 - Your new Medicare Part D plan becomes effective and you will be able to begin using your Part D benefits (your old plan will automatically be discontinued).
- January 1 to March 31, 2009 - Coordinating Special Enrollment Period (or SEP) - This special period is available for those people who enrolled into a Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Drug coverage (MA-PDs) and now wish to disenroll back to original Medicare coverage and a Prescription Drug Plan. As noted by CMS: "PDPs must accept enrollments for individuals enrolled in a MA-PD plan and who choose to elect Original Medicare during the MA OEP that occurs from January 1 through March 31, 2009. Since MA rules require these individuals to maintain prescription drug coverage, they MUST enroll in a PDP to accompany Original Medicare. This SEP allows MA-PD enrollees to enroll in a PDP and is limited to 1 enrollment."
- January 1 to December 31, 2009 - Persons turning 65 can enroll in a 2009 Medicare Part D Plan. Medicaid recipients can enroll or change their enrollment in a 2009 Medicare Part D Plan.
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2010 Medicare Part D Dates
- October 1, 2009 - Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan Marketing Activities can begin for the 2010 Part D plans - At this time you will be able to once again gather information and evaluate the various Part D plan alternatives.
- Please note, no enrollments may be accepted before November 15, 2009 for 2010 plans.
- November 15 to December 31, 2009 - Annual Coordinated Election Period - Here is your chance to join a Medicare Part D plan for the 2010 plan year (however your plan will not take effect until January 1, 2010 ). If you already have a Medicare Part D plan, this is your time to look back over 2009 and make an enrollment decision for your coverage for 2010. Should you stay with your existing coverage or make a change? If you make no decision, you will remain in the same plan as you elected in 2009. There is no enrollment required to renew your present coverage. Don't wait until the last minute to make your decision! People who wait until the end of December also wait into January for the arrival of their Welcome Information. Bottom Line: Don't wait until the end of December to make your enrollment decision. (If you do not enroll during this period, your next chance for coverage is January 2011.)
- January 1, 2010 - Your new Medicare Part D plan becomes effective and you will be able to begin using your Part D benefits (your old plan will automatically be discontinued).
- January 1 to March 31, 2010 - Coordinating Special Enrollment Period (or SEP) - This special period is available for those people who enrolled into a Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Drug coverage (MA-PDs) and now wish to disenroll back to original Medicare coverage and a Prescription Drug Plan. As noted by CMS: "PDPs must accept enrollments for individuals enrolled in a MA-PD plan and who choose to elect Original Medicare during the MA OEP that occurs from January 1 through March 31, 2010. Since MA rules require these individuals to maintain prescription drug coverage, they MUST enroll in a PDP to accompany Original Medicare. This SEP allows MA-PD enrollees to enroll in a PDP and is limited to 1 enrollment."
- January 1 to December 31, 2010 - Persons turning 65 can enroll in a 2010 Medicare Part D Plan. Medicaid recipients can enroll or change their enrollment in a 2010 Medicare Part D Plan.
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Last updated on: 11/14/2008
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