Did you know you can apply for Medicare Advantage Reno plans and Medigap Plans after the annual enrollment period deadline? Every year, the annual enrollment period for Medicare starts on October 15th and ends on December 7th. People can apply for Part D Drug Plans or Part C Medicare Advantage Plans during this time period. When you apply for a plan during the annual enrollment period, coverage will start on January 1st. But what happens when someone misses the annual enrollment period deadline? Fortunately, there are still ways for people to enroll in Medicare after the deadline.
Changing Part C Plans After the Deadline
If you are enrolled in a Part C Plan, you can change your plan during the new Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. This is a different time period compared to the annual enrollment period. Starting in 2019, the new Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period will start on January 1st and end on March 31st. If you are enrolled in a Part C plan, you have a one-time opportunity to:
-Switch Part C Plans
-Terminate your Part C plan and return to Part A and Part (also known as Original Medicare)
-Sign up for a standalone Part D Drug Plan (if you return to Original Medicare and drop Part C)
This new Open Enrollment Period only applies to people who are enrolled in a Part C plan.
Enroll in a Medigap Plan at any time of the Year
For people who do not qualify for the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, they can still enroll in Medicare after the deadline. Medigap plans allow people to apply at any time of the year, as long as you are not enrolled in Part C. The member must be 65 years old and qualify for both Part A and Part B in Nevada. Medigap plans are also known as Medicare Supplement Reno plans.
Depending on your eligibility, you may have to answer health questions. These health questions will determine your overall acceptance and cost on the Medigap Plan. If you are already enrolled in a Medigap Plan, you may want to review your options with different plans or companies. Many consumers are proactively transitioning out of their Plan F policies into Plan G plans. To read more on the pros and cons of the Plan F vs. Plan G, please click here.
Medigap Plans have a nationwide network and much stronger coverage compared to Part C plans. Every Medigap carrier offers the same amount of doctors and has the same benefits on their plans. The main difference when shopping for Medigap plans are the premium increases throughout the years. If you want to enroll in Medicare after the deadline on December 7th, give us a call today. One of our licensed brokers will explain these enrollment rules to you. We will also help you enroll, at no extra cost to you.
