How to Change Your Medicare Plan in Open Enrollment

The plan envelopes are landing now and the window opens in a few weeks. The assumption that sinks people is that doing nothing keeps everything the same, when a plan can change its costs and drug list for January under the same name. Medicare's Open Enrollment page says the window runs October 15 to December 7, with changes taking effect January 1.

Read the Annual Notice of Change first

Medicare's page on the Plan Annual Notice of Change says a plan sends it each fall, in September, and that it includes any changes in coverage, costs, and more that will be effective in January. The page says to review those changes to decide whether the plan will still meet your needs next year, and to contact the plan if it does not arrive.

Mark the October 15 to December 7 window

The Open Enrollment page lists what can be changed: join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage; join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan while in Original Medicare; and switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan in either direction. The page says the plan must get the request by December 7.

Compare plans on the official Plan Finder

The government comparison tool is the Medicare Plan Finder. Medicare's page on helpful tools describes it as a way to compare Medicare Advantage Plans, other Medicare health plans, and Medicare drug plans in your area, and to enter the drugs you take for an estimate of monthly and yearly cost per plan. The page on joining a plan also says to check that a plan covers your prescriptions and to ask your doctors and pharmacies whether they are in its network.

Send the enrollment request before December 7

The joining a plan page lists three routes once a plan is chosen: select Enroll for that plan in the Plan Finder, contact the plan by phone, website, or a paper form it must receive before the period ends, or call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227. The same page says to have your Medicare Number and Part A or Part B start dates on hand. Note the date of the request and any reference number given.

Check any caller against Medicare's marketing rules

Medicare's page on plan marketing rules says plans may not call unless you are already a member or have given permission to be contacted, may not come to your home uninvited to sell or endorse anything, and may not ask for bank account or credit card numbers over the phone unless it is needed to process an enrollment request. Medicare's page on reporting fraud and abuse says Medicare will never call to sell anything or visit your home.

If December 7 passes. The joining a plan page describes a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31, for people already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, who can switch plans or drop back to Original Medicare and join a separate drug plan. Coverage then starts the first of the month after the plan gets the request.

Sources. Open Enrollment, Plan Annual Notice of Change, Medicare Plan Finder, Helpful tools, Joining a plan, Marketing rules for health plans, Reporting Medicare fraud and abuse.