Medicare Enrollment, 5 Star Special Enrollment, Disenrollment Periods 2012 and 2013

Medicare Advantage Disenrollment 2012: January 1, 2012 – February 14, 2012

During the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period you can switch from a Medicare private health plan (also known as a Medicare Advantage plan) to Original Medicare. Regardless of whether the Medicare private health plan had drug coverage, you can join a stand-alone prescription drug plan, but you are not required to. Changes made during the MADP go into effect the first day of the following month.

What you can do:

• If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare.
• If you switch to Original Medicare during this period, you will have until February 14 to also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form.

Note: During this period, you can’t do the following:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.
• Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another.
• Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan.

NEW—5-Star Special Enrollment Period

New in 2012, you now can join or switch to a 5-star Medicare plan at any time during the year.

• You can only switch to a 5-star Medicare plan if one is available in your area.
• You can only use this period to switch to a 5-star Medicare plan one time each year.

Medicare Open Enrollment 2013: October 15, 2012 – December 7, 2012

During the Fall Open Enrollment you can change how you receive your health coverage and add, change or drop drug coverage. You can make as many changes as you want. The last change that is made is the one that will take effect. Changes made during the Fall Open Enrollment take effect January 1.

What you can do:

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage.
• Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
• Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.