Each year during Medicare Open Enrollment period (October 15th - December 7th), eligible people can join, drop or switch Medicare plans for the upcoming year. Learn more.


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Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period: What you need to know 

Medicare plans can change each year—and so can your healthcare needs. The Medicare Open Enrollment Period which occurs each year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, gives you the chance to review and make changes to your current Medicare coverage.

Here’s some information to help you prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment and get the most out of your Medicare coverage in the coming year.

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Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, known as the “Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan annual election period,” “annual enrollment period” or “AEP,” takes place each year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. This is the primary time when people can choose or change their Medicare coverage. Accepted coverage changes go into effect on Jan. 1 of the following year.

There are other times during the year when a person can enroll in a plan, such as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, held each year from Jan. 1 through March 31, or Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Those are explained in more detail below.

People already enrolled in Medicare can make changes to their Medicare plan coverage, including:

Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan (or vice versa)

Switching to a Medicare Advantage plan with or without prescription drug coverage

Switching from 1 Medicare Advantage plan to another

Joining, switching or leaving a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan

Switching to a new private insurer



When shopping Medicare plans during open enrollment, some coverage details to consider include: 

    Out-of-pocket costs—premiums, deductibles, copayments and any other payments not covered by Medicare

    Prescription drug coverage—eligibility requirements, medication coverage and costs, generic vs. brand name, etc. 

    Healthcare needs—any upcoming surgeries or doctor appointments you may have in the coming year

    Travel plans—Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover services overseas, so if you plan on traveling out of the country, you might consider buying a supplemental insurance plan that will cover you in case of an emergency



All 4 parts of Medicare are available during the Open Enrollment Period.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B)

Original Medicare is provided by the Federal government and comes in 2 parts—Part A and Part B:

Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It has no premium cost if you’ve paid payroll taxes for at least 10 years.

Medicare Part B is medical insurance. It requires you to pay premiums, copays and deductibles, like private insurance companies. The 2024 Part B premium is $174.70 or higher, depending on your income.

However, Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything. If you need prescription drugs or routine vision, dental or hearing care, you may want to consider additional coverage options.


Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)

Beyond Original Medicare, there is further coverage through Parts C and D:

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) is offered by private insurers and often combines Parts A, B and D in 1 plan.

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. It is an optional stand-alone prescription drug plan offered through private companies.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include coverage for prescription drugs and may offer dental, vision and hearing benefits. You may need to pay a monthly premium in addition to the Part B premium, but it might be worth it to you based on your personal healthcare needs. 

<a href="/medicare/medicare-resources/medicare-advantage-enrollment" class="adj-link-standalone">Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment</a> (extra time for Medicare Advantage plan members to switch or drop their MA plan)

If you miss open enrollment, you’ll most likely be automatically re-enrolled in your plan if it’s still offered in your area. You’ll keep the same plan the following year as long as you continue paying any required premiums.

However, there are a few circumstances where you can change your plan outside of open enrollment. These circumstances include:

Special Enrollment Period (SEP)—Generally, you can join or switch to another plan when certain events happen in your life, such as moving or losing other insurance coverage.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP)—If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can enroll in a different Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare between Jan. 1 and March 31.

5-star Special Enrollment Period—If a Medicare plan with a 5-star rating is available in your area, you can switch from your current Medicare plan to a Medicare plan with a “5-star” quality rating. There are limitations on when you can use this enrollment period. 



Even if you’re happy with your current Medicare plan, it’s important to check for any changes in the coming year and compare Medicare plan options, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. We’re here to help you make sense of it all so you can choose your plan with confidence.

Licensed Humana sales agents are just a phone call away. You can schedule an appointment to talk with a licensed Humana sales agent to explore your options.

You can also contact Medicare directly for more information by calling 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) (TTY: 877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, or by visiting the Medicare website.

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“Joining a plan,” Medicare.gov, last accessed Aug. 8, 2024.  

“Get ready to buy,” Medicare.gov, last accessed Aug. 8, 2024.




Dates	Oct 15–Dec 7	Jan 1	Jan 1–Mar 1
Details	Medicare Open Enrollment	Medicare changes take effect	Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (extra time for Medicare Advantage plan members to switch or drop their MA plan)

Important Medicare enrollment dates to mark on your calendar