Do you have to enroll in Medicare every year?
Your current Medicare coverage will renew automatically for the following year. This will occur unless you take action and make changes during the Annual Enrollment Period, which we’ll further discuss below.
How often do you have to enroll in Medicare?
Generally speaking, once you’re enrolled in Medicare, you don’t need to do anything to renew your coverage. This holds true whether you have Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage Plan, or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. If you continue to pay your premiums and don’t want to make any changes to your coverage, your Medicare converge will renew automatically every year.
Will you ever lose Medicare if you don’t re-enroll?
In some instances, you might need to take action to renew your Medicare coverage. Sometimes, your Medicare Advantage or stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan won’t renew automatically. This may happen because:
- Your plan reduces its coverage area, and you now live outside of it.
- Your plan doesn’t renew its Medicare contract for the upcoming year.
- Your plan leaves the Medicare program in the middle of the year.
- Medicare stops its contract with your plan.
If any of these apply to you, you can take advantage of the Special Election Period, which will run from December 8th to the last day of February. In the event you have Medicare Advantage but don’t enroll in a new plan by the time the Special Election Period comes to an end, you’ll automatically be reverted to Original Medicare.
Do you have to do anything after you enroll in Medicare the first time?
While you aren’t required to do anything after you initially enroll in Medicare, it’s a good idea to review your coverage every year during the Open Enrollment Period or Annual Enrollment Period. This way you can make changes if necessary and ensure your healthcare plan aligns with your ever-evolving budget and healthcare needs.
Do you have to enroll in Medigap supplement plans more than once?
Medigap supplement plans are private health insurance plans intended to cover costs that are not covered by Original Medicare. There is a one-time open enrollment window with a Medigap supplement plan. This occurs when you first turn 65 or enroll in Part B, whichever comes later. You’ll be able to buy any supplement you’d like.
What is Medicare Annual Enrollment?
Medicare Annual Enrollment is when you can make changes to your Medicare coverage if you’d like to. It runs from October 15th to December 7th every year. Any changes that you make will go into effect on January 1st of the upcoming year. While you don’t have to participate in Medicare Annual Enrollment, you should use it as a time to review your coverage to make sure it will work well for the next year.
Contact MAIR Agency Today
If you’re interested in learning more about Medicare or would like to find the right health insurance plan for your unique situation, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the process.