When can I enroll?

Most people can only enroll during certain times of the year.

Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP)

The ICEP is the seven-month period that begins three months before you become eligible for Medicare Part B and ends three months after your month of eligibility. During this period you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan. Generally, the initial coverage election period is related to an individual's 65th birthday or 25th month of disability. If you enroll during this period, your coverage begins on the 1st day of the month of entitlement to Medicare Part A and Part B— or the 1st day of the month following the month the enrollment request was made if after entitlement has occurred. This means that if you enroll during the period that relates to your 65th birthday, your coverage begins as follows:

October 15 to December 7

During this time you can choose to keep your current coverage or make changes to your coverage for the upcoming year. If you decide to change to a new plan, you can choose any of the following types of plans:

• Another Medicare Advantage plan. (You can choose a plan that covers prescription drugs (MAPD) or one that does not cover prescription drugs (MA only)
• Original Medicare with a separate Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP)
• Original Medicare with a supplement plan also known as Medigap, plus a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) if drug coverage is not included in the supplement plan

If you disenroll from a Medicare prescription drug plan and go without creditable prescription drug coverage, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you join a Medicare drug plan later. ("Creditable" coverage means the coverage is at least as good as Medicare's standard prescription drug coverage.)

Your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year, as long as the plan receives your enrollment request by December 7.

YEAR ROUND ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES

From April 1 forward, enrollment periods are only available to people who are newly eligible for Medicare or who are in a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS (SEP)

In most cases, you must stay enrolled for that calendar year starting the date your coverage begins. However, in certain situations, you may be able to join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan at other times. These are called Special Enrollment Periods. Some of these situations include the following:

• If you move out of your plan's service area
• If you have both Medicare and Medicaid
• If you qualify for Extra Help to pay for your prescription drug costs
• If you move into, reside in or are moving out of long term care

If you are ready to enroll for 2024, click here.

For plan year 2025, click here. 

Health First Health Plans is an HMO plan with a Medicare Contract. Enrollment in Health First Health Plans depends on contract renewal. Medicare beneficiaries may also enroll in Health First Health Plans through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at Medicare.gov.

Y0089_EL108951_M | Accepted date: 10/01/2024
Last updated: 10/01/2024