When You Can Enroll In or Change Medicare Plans
Medicare enrollment periods are specific times that you're able to enroll or make changes to your Medicare coverage. If there isn't a valid enrollment period, you can’t enroll or make changes. The fastest and easiest way to determine when you're eligible to enroll is to speak with a Via Benefits licensed benefit advisor. Speaking with a benefit advisor helps ensure that your coverage changes are made during a valid enrollment period and that your reimbursement account isn't affected. Our licensed benefit advisors specialize in health insurance for retirees. They go through annual training and certification to ensure they can help you make an informed and confident decision.
To speak with a benefit advisor, you can schedule an appointment on the website or call us at 1-866-322-2824 at your convenience.
Disenrollment from Your Current Plan
Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans require an enrollment reason to disenroll, such as a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) or the Open Enrollment Period (OEP).
When you change plans, some plans replace your current coverage automatically and others don't.
When you enroll in a new MA, MAPD, or Prescription Drug plan (PDP), you will be automatically disenrolled from any existing MAs, MAPDs, or PDPs.
You will need to contact your current insurance carrier to cancel your plan in these situations:
When you enroll in an MA or MAPD plan, your Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy will not be automatically canceled.
When you enroll in a Medigap policy, your MA or MAPD plan will not be automatically canceled.
When you switch from an MA or MAPD plan to Original Medicare without enrolling in a PDP, your MA or MAPD plan will not be automatically canceled.
You can call Via Benefits for assistance in contacting your current insurance carrier and canceling your existing plan.
Please ask your benefit advisor if you're unsure whether or not your current coverage automatically cancels.
Medigap or Medicare Cost Plan Changes
Medicare enrollment periods don't apply to Medigap policies or Medicare Cost plans, as these plans follow different rules. To learn more about changing Medigap plans, read When You Can Enroll In or Change Medigap Policies.