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Elder Law Prof Blog
Katherine C. Pearson, Editor, and a Member of the Law Professor Blogs Network on LexBlog.com

CMA: New Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage Plans

By Elder Law Prof Blog

The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 allows people with the Original Medicare Plan to join a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t include Medicare prescription drug coverage outside of the normal MA enrollment periods at any time in 2007 or 2008. Thus, this opportunity is in addition to the existing enrollment periods listed below:

  •      The Annual Enrollment Period from November 15 – December 31
  •      The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 – March 31
  •      Any Special Election Periods
  •      The Initial Enrollment Period for individuals new to Medicare

People with Medicare who have a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan can stay in their drug plan if they join a Private Fee-for-Service Plan that doesn’t offer Medicare prescription drug coverage.   However, if they join a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO, PPO, or Regional PPO) that doesn’t offer Medicare prescription drug coverage, their enrollment in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan will be automatically cancelled. This means they won’t have Medicare prescription drug coverage and could face a late enrollment penalty should they later choose to re-enroll in a drug plan.  Before this happens, the person with Medicare will be contacted by their new plan to confirm that the person wants to make this choice, and understands the consequences.

This new open enrollment period doesn’t apply for people who want to join a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan, Medicare Advantage Plan that offers Medicare prescription drug coverage, or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Source:  Center for Medicare Advocacy/CMS

Posted in:
Medicare