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What To Consider When Changing Medicare Plans
Finding a new plan may be easier than you think. We’ll help you get started with key details you'll need to know.
Select your current plan type to review your options.
In addition to providing medical and hospital coverage, most Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, and more – but not all plans are equal.
When you consider different plan options, be sure to compare the benefits and costs with your current plan. Check to see if your doctors and hospitals are in the new plan network and look up your drugs to estimate the cost.
Enrollment And Eligibility
You can join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage plan every year during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7.
If you’re not happy with that plan, you have an opportunity to change plans just once during the Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31.
At other points during the year, you may qualify for a two-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you have a qualifying life event, such as moving out of your plan’s service area, or losing employer coverage.
Smart Tip: Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, and Open Enrollment Period is January 1 to March 31.
Medicare Supplement plans can offer greater flexibility in allowing you to visit any doctor or facility that accepts Medicare patients.1 This is ideal for people who travel frequently or spend part of the year in another location. And while you pay a higher premium than with a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement plans can help cover some out-of-pocket costs, like copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. Plus, your benefits are guaranteed for life once you’re enrolled and your premiums are paid.
Enrollment And Eligibility
If you first chose a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you have one year to return to Original Medicare‡ and enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan without looking at past or present health conditions. After that time, you may be required to get a medical exam, and you may be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
To change from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medicare Supplement plan after the first 12 months, you’ll need to wait until the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7. In this scenario, please remember, you may be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
You can also disenroll from Medicare Advantage and select a Medicare Supplement plan if you qualify for a two-month Special Enrollment Period. There are some Special Enrollment Periods when you will not be allowed to buy a Medicare Supplement policy. Contact Anthem for help.
Smart Tip: Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7.
D-SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans for people with Medicare and Medicaid. If you qualify, these plans give benefits beyond Original Medicare‡ and Medicaid — with $0 monthly premiums.
Enrollment And Eligibility
You can enroll in a D-SNP plan the first month you become eligible for Medicaid. You can also change plans one time during each of these periods:
January-March
April-June
July-September
If you make a change during one of these times, your coverage will start on the first day of the following month. You can also enroll or switch Dual Special Needs Plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7 for coverage starting January 1.
When changing from one Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap) to another, be sure to compare the benefits and costs of each plan. Some plans offer lower premiums in exchange for more out-of-pocket costs, while others have higher premiums with little to no out-of-pocket costs.
Enrollment And Eligibility
The best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan is during your Initial Enrollment Period, which lasts for seven months, starting three months before you turn 65, and ending three months after the month you turn 65. You also can enroll during the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which lasts for six months after you get Medicare Part B and are over 65 years old.
During this time, you have guaranteed issue rights, which means you can’t be denied coverage or charged higher premiums for pre-existing health conditions.
There are other Special Enrollment Periods that allow you to change Medicare Supplement plans and still maintain your guaranteed issue rights. For example, if you are in a Medicare Select plan and you move to an area outside your current hospital network, you have a guaranteed issue right to change your Medicare Supplement plan.
Outside the Initial Enrollment Period and the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you can change Medicare Supplement plans at any time. However, in all but four states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and New York) any pre-existing or current health conditions you may have might impact your ability to get coverage.
When you switch between Medicare Supplement plans, you may be given a 30-day “free look” period to decide if you want to keep it. You must pay the premiums for both plans during this time. After 30 days, you need to select which plan you want to keep.
Medicare Supplement enrollment and switching rules vary by the state you live in. You should always check with your state’s department of insurance to fully understand your options or call us. We’re here to help.
Smart Tip: The Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the six-month period beginning on the first day of the month you’re at least 65, and also enrolled in Medicare Part B.
Convenience and cost are two of the biggest reasons people change from a Medicare Supplement plan to a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage plans have $0 or low premiums and offer valuable benefits like dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Most plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D) all in one plan. But unlike a Medicare Supplement plan, Medicare Advantage plans have a network of providers. You will want to make sure your doctors and hospitals are included in the plan’s network before you enroll.
Enrollment And Eligibility
You can change from a Medicare Supplement plan to a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7. Keep in mind, if you switch to a Medicare Advantage plan and then want to return to a Medicare Supplement plan, you should try to do so within the first 12 months. Otherwise, you may be denied coverage based on your health.
If you do switch to a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, your coverage will start on January 1 of the following year.
If you’re not happy with your new Medicare Advantage plan, you have a second chance to change or drop plans just once during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31. If you change your plan during Open Enrollment Period, your coverage will start on the first day of the next month.
At other points during the year, you may qualify for a two-month Special Enrollment Period if you have a qualifying life event, such as moving out of your plan’s service area.
Smart Tip: Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7 and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is January 1 to March 31.
When shopping for a new stand-alone Medicare Part D plan, review the plan’s formulary (drug list) to make sure your current medications are covered, and the network includes your pharmacy. Also, compare the premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance of each plan to determine which offers you the lowest out-of-pocket costs.
When Can I Change My Part D Plan?
You can change Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7. If you change Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, your coverage will start in January of the following year.
For Medicare Advantage plans that include Part D (MAPD) coverage, you can change to another Part D plan during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31).
If you drop your Medicare Advantage plan during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, and if that plan included Part D, you can purchase a standalone Part D plan to Original Medicare‡ or a Medicare Supplement plan during this period (January 1 to March 31).
Your coverage will start the first of the following month after you sign up.
Smart Tip: Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, and Open Enrollment Period is January 1 to March 31.
Find The Right Anthem Medicare Plan For You
As a leading healthcare provider, Anthem is committed to helping you find a new plan that’s right for you. You can choose from a wide range of options or call one of our licensed agents for personalized guidance: tel
Medicare Advantage (Part C) Plans
Our comprehensive Medicare Advantage plans include everything Original Medicare‡ has to offer – and more. You can select an Anthem plan that includes benefits like these:
$0
Plus, you could get a spending allowance for over-the-counter health items, groceries, transportation, and utilities – all conveniently managed via an Anthem Benefits Prepaid Card. (Benefits may vary based on where you live, the plan you select, and individual conditions.)
Medicare Advantage is available in HMO, PPO, and Special Needs Plans so you have the flexibility to choose the coverage that fits you.
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)
Medicare Supplement plans can help pay some of your out-of-pocket costs not covered by Original Medicare‡, like copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. And you can receive care from any doctor or facility that accepts Medicare patients.1
Medicare Supplement plan medical and hospital benefits are standardized, so all insurer options are the same, but Anthem offers more. Choose an Anthem Medicare Supplement plan that includes helpful extras like these:
SilverSneakers® fitness membership
ScriptSave/WellRx prescription drug savings2
SpecialOffers discounts on products and services that promote better health and well-being3
Prescription Drug (Medicare Part D) Plans
Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage, which can be especially important if you’re managing a condition that requires regular medications. You can complement your Original Medicare‡ or a Medicare Supplement plan with an Anthem Part D plan that can help lower the costs of your medications.
Our Plans Include:
More than 65,000 pharmacies in our network
$1 copays for preferred prescription drugs at preferred pharmacies
Even if you don’t take prescription drugs when you’re first eligible for Medicare, consider getting a Medicare Part D plan to avoid a late enrollment penalty if you join later.
Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs)
Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs Plans are for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, offering benefits at little to no extra cost, like:
Dental, Vision, and Hearing coverage
Prescription drug coverage
Utility bill support for those who qualify
Transportation for health-related appointments
Over-the-counter allowance for health items
24/7 virtual doctor visits
Personal Emergency Response System
Support with groceries and assistive devices for those who qualify
Check Your Doctors And Prescriptions
We want to make sure you’re happy with your new plan. Before you change plans, check your doctors and prescriptions.
Change Your Healthcare Plan Confidently
Need some extra guidance? These helpful resources can help you feel comfortable with your decision to change plans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Plans
If you already have Medicare Advantage, you can sign up for a different Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7. You also can change to another Medicare Advantage plan, disenroll, or change back to Original Medicare‡ during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, from January 1 to March 31.
If you already have a Medicare Supplement plan, you can change to a new plan at any time of the year, but in most states, any pre-existing or current health conditions you may have might impact your monthly premiums or ability to get coverage.
If you already have Original Medicare,‡ or you have both Original Medicare‡ and a Medigap plan, you can enroll in a Medicare Part D plan during your Initial Enrollment Period (7 months bracketing your 65 birthday month), the Medigap Open Enrollment Period (6 months from the time you get Part B and are over 65), the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) or the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7).
If you qualify for Medicaid and are enrolled in Medicare, you may be able to enroll in a Dual Special Needs Plan. You can enroll in a dual plan when you first become eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, and change plans once a quarter (January-March, April-June, July-September), and during the Annual Enrollment Period October 15 through December 7.
You can enroll in or change dual plans once per Special Enrollment Period or during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period.
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‡Original Medicare: Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).
1Medicare Select Plans are the exception. For non-emergency services covered by Medicare, you must use a hospital in our Select hospital network to receive full benefits.
2DISCOUNT ONLY - NOT INSURANCE. Discounts are available exclusively through participating pharmacies. The range of the discounts will vary depending on the type of prescription and the pharmacy chosen. This program does not make payments directly to pharmacies. Members are required to pay for all prescription purchases. You may contact customer care anytime with questions or concerns, to cancel your registration, or to obtain further information. This program is administered by Medical Security Card Company, LLC, of Tucson, AZ.
3Vendors and offers are subject to change without prior notice. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield does not endorse and is not responsible for the products, services or information offered by the vendors or providers. We negotiated the arrangements and discounts with each independent vendor or provider in order to assist our members. These discounts are not insurance and are not part of the Medicare Supplement insurance plans.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a Medicare Advantage plan with a Medicare contract. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a D-SNP plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield depends on contract renewal.
For Medicare Supplement only: Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.