Your Comprehensive Guide to The Medicare Open Enrollment Period 2022

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is for Medicare consumers to enroll, drop, or make changes to their Medicare coverage for the coming year.

You may also hear the terms: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period or Medicare Annual Election Period. These titles refer to the same time period designated for changes to your Medicare policy.

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When is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period for 2021?

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period takes place from October 15th 2021 until December 7th 2021. All changes must be submitted within this window. There is one exception to missing the December 7th deadline. That is, if the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declares an emergency or major disaster in your area that prevents you from being able to submit before the deadline.

The changes submitted within the Medicare Open Enrollment Period will come into effect as of January 1st 2022.

What You Can do During the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

If you became newly eligible for Medicare during 2021 then you can use this window to apply for Medicare coverage. You are eligible for Medicare if:

You are 65 years of age or older
You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

If you are already enrolled in Medicare, you can use the Open Enrollment Period to make changes to or drop an existing policy. In September of 2021, you will have received a letter regarding any changes made to your Medicare coverage. These changes may include the following:

Your premiums either increase or decrease
The network of permitted health care workers expands or shrinks
Certain drugs are no longer covered under Medicare Plan D
Medicare Plan D will cover more drugs than before

Depending on which of these changes have been made to your Medicare policy, you may wish to utilize the Open Enrollment Period to change course.

Here are some changes that you are able to make:

Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) to Original Medicare
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another
Sign up for Medicare Part D to cover prescription drugs
Change your Medicare Part D plan
Cancel your Medicare Part D plan

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When You Should Make Changes to Your Medicare Coverage?

As we approach this year’s Medicare Open Enrollment Period, you will have to consider whether you need to make changes to your Medicare coverage. This can be a difficult decision as there are many factors that come into play.

The following are questions to ask yourself when considering changing your Medicare coverage:

Have your premiums increased to a rate you cannot sustain?
Is your family physician still within your Advantage Plan’s Network?
Is your prescription drug still covered in Part D?
Do you plan on moving or travelling in the coming year?
Have you gained any ancillary benefits?
Do you anticipate needing more healthcare in the coming year?
Are you satisfied with your current Medicare coverage?

Depending on your answer to these questions, you may or may not choose to make changes to your Medicare coverage for 2022. Whatever you decide, know that your healthcare is an important personal decision that deserves your comprehensive consideration.

The Centre for Medicare and Medicaid Services

The Centre for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a five star rating system to help you compare Medicare plans. One star is an indication of a very poor plan, and five stars is an indication of a very good one. These are the factors that the rating is based off of:

Customer Service
Member Experience
Member Complaints

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How To Use the Medicare Open Enrollment Period 2022?

Now that you have all the information that you need, you’re ready to take action. Making changes to your Medicare coverage is, quite literally, as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Check that you are eligible to make changes to your Medicare coverage
Decide whether you are satisfied with your current coverage or not
Contact a licensed agent to enroll in any changes before December 7th

Remember to always put your individual demands first, because you deserve a healthcare policy that meets your needs.

Margaret Huntley Margaret Huntley is a creative writing and philosophy student at Western University. She has been working as a freelance writer for over two years and has written about everything from insurance, to poker, to health and wellness for international businesses.