You can change Medicare plans to meet your needs

Life changes constantly. Fortunately, your Medicare coverage can change with it. If you’re ready to explore new Medicare options, you may be able to switch to a different plan.

Sometimes the coverage you chose when you first enrolled in Medicare may not be what’s best for you now. You might be planning for a surgery, experiencing changes in your lifestyle or adjusting your budget to better manage health care costs. Or maybe you’ve moved, or your current plan’s coverage or provider network has changed.

Each year during AEP, you can make changes to your Medicare coverage for the following year. You can:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost or stand-alone Part D plan.
• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost or stand-alone Part D plan for the first time.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost or stand-alone Part D plan and go back to Original Medicare. You can then choose to apply for a Medicare Supplement plan.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, then during the annual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period you can:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare. You can then choose to join a stand-alone Part D plan.

Certain life events may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period when you can change your Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement plan, Medicare Cost plan or stand-alone Part D plan. Examples include:

• Moving outside of your current plan’s service area
• Your plan ending, ceasing to serve the area where you live or significantly reducing its provider network
• Qualifying for assistance from the Medicare Extra Help program

If you have Medicaid (called Medical Assistance in Minnesota) and are eligible for Medicare Parts A and B, you can enroll in a plan that combines your coverage. In Minnesota, this plan is called Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO), and it includes coverage for medical care, Part D prescription drugs, dental care and long-term care – plus extra benefits.

You can enroll in or change an MSHO plan:

• When you become eligible for both Medical Assistance and Medicare Parts A and B
• Once each month
• During annual open enrollment (October 15 through December 7)
• During a special enrollment period if your eligibility changes

Generally, the plan will be effective the first day of the month after you enroll. If you sign up during the Annual Enrollment Period, your plan will be effective January 1 of the next year.