How To Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan

When it comes to joining a Medicare Advantage plan, you must first have to be enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and B). You will also have to live in the service area of the Advantage plan you want to join so you can take advantage of its coverage and the plan’s provider network if it has one. 

The Advantage plans you can typically join includes:

• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans
• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans
• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
• Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans

Now that you know the plans that may be available to you and what requirements you need to meet before you enroll, let’s talk about when you can actually enroll.

Initial Enrollment

At least 230,000 people are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in the state of New Jersey and all of them enrolled during a specific Medicare enrollment period. It’s important to know about these enrollment periods so you can enroll on time and get the most out of your coverage. One of those periods in particular is the Initial Enrollment Period.

The Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month period that begins three months before your 65th birthday month. This is the first period that many people will enroll in as it officially marks their Medicare eligibility.

Special Enrollment

The Special Enrollment Period is available to those who have experienced some qualifying event that qualifies them for a Special Enrollment Period. It can allow them to skip the Initial Enrollment Period without facing late enrollment penalties. 

A good example that can qualify you for this period includes having employer coverage so you choose to delay your Medicare enrollment. However, now that your employer coverage is ending or already ended, you need to enroll in Medicare so you can continue to have coverage.

Another example is moving out of your current Medicare plan’s service area and needing a new plan.

Annual Enrollment

The Annual Enrollment Period, also known as the Annual Election Period, is another commonly used enrollment period that allows you to join a Medicare Advantage plan. This period starts on October 15 every year and ends on December 7. 

During this period, you have the option of making changes to your coverage. For example, if you’re currently enrolled in Original Medicare, you can make the decision to switch to Medicare Advantage. If you’re currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make the decision to go back to just Original Medicare, or switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan, such as one with prescription drug coverage. 

Once you make the necessary changes during this period, your new coverage will start on January 1.

Enroll In Medicare Advantage With The Garden State Medicare Experts

At Jersey Medicare Solutions, we care about you and will make sure you get the coverage you need most for your situation. That’s why if you’re looking to join a Medicare Advantage plan, we will do all the work at no cost to you! We will compare plans in your area, compare insurance carriers, and compare costs so you know what’s available to you.

Just give us a call today at 1-800-549-6804 to learn more!