What Happens if You Miss Medicare Open Enrollment?
I missed the December 7 Medicare open enrollment deadline! What do I do now?
I get this question a lot!
Missing the open enrollment deadline can result in having inadequate or costly coverage. However, you may still be able to make Medicare coverage changes without waiting until 2020 (although there is no guarantee).
5-Star Plans
Medicare rates certain plans using a star system with information collected from member satisfaction surveys and health-care providers. Five stars is the highest rating available.
Between December 8 and November 30 (of the following year), if a 5-star plan is available in your area, you may sign up or switch to one of these plans. This special enrollment period ONLY applies to
- Medicare Advantage plans,
- stand-alone Medicare Part D, and
- Medicare Cost plans.
Special Enrollment Periods
There are several situations where coverage changes may occur outside of the Medicare open enrollment period. Most situations involve losing health-care coverage in one form or another.
For example:
- You moved out of your plan’s service area
- You were eligible for Medicaid but now you are not
- You left your employer or union-based health insurance
- You moved into, out of, or still live in a skilled nursing facility
- Your plan is losing or discontinuing its contract with Medicare
- You are moving back to the United States after living in another country
Other circumstances may be available to you if you miss open enrollment. However, it is always best to make sure you have signed up for the right plan before your window closes. If I can help you enroll on time and with the plan this most suited your needs, please contact me anytime.
Featured Blogs
- Aging and Our Body’s Ability to Heal Itself
- Keeping Health Insurance After a Layoff
- Waking Up to the Impact of Insomnia
- How Life Insurance Benefits Women
- What experts say about raising the retirement age
- Coverage for healthcare treatment denied? Here’s what you can do.
- Sharing the Road with Cyclists
- Buying Life Insurance for an Elderly Parent?
- Medicaid Unwinding: Your Questions Answered
- Living Your Best Life After 60
- Buying Health Insurance: A Millennial’s Guide
- Self-Love Ideas for Valentine’s Day
- Life Without Clutter
- Set Yourself Up for Success with Your Fitness Routine
- Winter Hydration – Do I Need It?
- I’m 60+; Do I Need Life Insurance?
- Why Do I Keep Breaking My New Year’s Resolutions?
- Closing Out the Year with a Smile!
- How to Enjoy a Long Layover
- 6 Cold Weather Safety Tips
- 10 Tips for Managing Cholesterol Levels
- How Much Life Insurance Do You Need Right Now?
- 3 Top Tips for Better Posture
- Building Bone Density for Seniors
- Living Outside Your Comfort Zone in Retirement
- 3 Top Habits that Lead to a Happy Life After Retirement
- Should You Insure Your Gifts?
- Everything You Need to Know When Retiring Under 65
- 7 Benefits of Slow Travel
- Utilizing Medicare Preventative Services
- The Harsh Reality of Credit Card Fees
- Tips to Avoid Stress Eating
- Common Exercise Pains – How to Work Past Them and When to Call for Help
- Know the Benefits of Walking
- 4 Tips for a Less Stressful Summer
- How to Choose an In-Home Care Provider for Your Loved One in 5 Steps
- 2020 Commencement Speech Quotes for All of Us
- Is Fasting a Fad?
- 3 Vegetables You Can Plant and Grow Anywhere Right Now!
- Summer is Almost Here! Can a Couch-to-5k Running Program Get You Ready?
- Special Needs Child? Consider Survivorship Life Insurance
- The Case(s) to Buy Life Insurance for Your Child
- The Safest Vehicles to Buy in Model Year 2020