Medicare has specified certain time periods for enrolling in or changing to a different Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D plan.

Annual Enrollment Period — Medicare Advantage and PDP
November 15 through December 31

• If you didn’t join a plan when you were first eligible, you can join during this period. If you are enrolled already, you can keep the coverage you have or make a change once during this period.
• If you have:
  • Original Medicare (only)
  • Medicare Advantage plan with or without Part D coverage
  • Original Medicare plus a Medicare Part D plan
• You can change to:
  • Original Medicare
  • Medicare Advantage plan with or without Part D coverage
  • Original Medicare plus a Medicare Part D plan
  • Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement
  • Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement plus a Medicare Part D plan
• The choice you make during the Annual Enrollment Period generally becomes effective on January 1 of the following year.
• If you are already a member of HAP Senior Plus or Alliance Medicare PPO and you want to keep your plan, you don’t need to take any action. We will automatically enroll you in the plan for the coming year.

Open Enrollment Period — Medicare Advantage and PDP
January 1 through March 31

• During this period, anyone with Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan can switch plans once.
• Any switch you make during the Open Enrollment Period generally will be effective on the first day of the month following the date the plan receives your request.
• You cannot add or drop Medicare prescription drug coverage during this time. For example, if you are in a Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage, you cannot join a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage.
• Changing from one stand-alone Medicare Part D plan to another stand-alone Medicare Part D plan can only occur during the Annual Enrollment Period, not the Open Enrollment Period.

Special Enrollment Period — Medicare Advantage and PDP
January 1 – December 31

In some cases, plan enrollment or plan changes are allowed at other times of the year. These include:

• If you are just turning 65, or move into a new service area, or lose group-sponsored benefits, you can enroll any time from three months before to three months after the event.
• If you apply and qualify for extra help paying your Medicare costs or get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits without Medicaid, you can switch plans once during the calendar year, and once each year after, between November 15 and December 31.
• If you belong to a Medicare Savings Program (your state Medicaid program pays your Medicare premiums), you can switch to another Medicare drug plan at any time.

Other Opportunities to Make Changes — Medicare Advantage and PDP

Generally, you can’t make any other changes during the year unless you meet special exceptions, such as if you move or if you have Medicaid coverage. Contact your Client Service Representative for more information:

Alliance Medicare Rx
(800) 765-3436 toll free
TDD (800) 956-4325 toll free

Alliance Medicare PPO
(888) 658-2536 toll free
TDD (800) 956-4325 toll free

HAP Senior Plus
(800) 801-1770 toll free
TDD (800) 956-4325 toll free

Our hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.

During the enrollment period of November 15 through March 1, Client Services Specialists are available seven days a week, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You can also call Medicare for information about joining or switching a Medicare plan. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). For TDD/TTY, call (877) 486-2048. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your Rights Upon Disenrollment

If you disenroll from one of our plans, we will send you a confirmation of disenrollment notice that will describe certain rights you may have. The following summarizes those rights.

• If you will be changing to the Original Medicare Plan you might have a special temporary right to buy a Medicare Supplement insurance policy (Medigap), even if you have health problems. For example, if you are age 65 or older and you enrolled in Medicare Part B within the past 6 months or if you move out of the service area, you may have this special right.

Federal law requires the protections described above. Michigan may have laws that provide more Medigap protections.

If you have questions about Medicare Supplement or any special temporary rights you may have, you can contact:

• Your Client Services Representative at the number shown above, or
• Your State Health Insurance Program, the Michigan Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program, at 1-800-803-7174
• For more information about trial periods, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). This line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Medicare Supplement Enrollment (Medigap)
January 1 – December 31

You can purchase a Medigap policy at any time. The best time to purchase your policy is during the six months after you become age 65 or older and enroll in Medicare Part B. During this six-month time period, you can buy any Medigap policy you want. You cannot be turned down.

• In some cases, if you have a health problem that is diagnosed before your Medigap policy starts, the insurance company can refuse to cover that health problem for up to six months. This is called a “pre-existing condition waiting period.”
• Generally, if you are under the age of 65, and you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you can purchase a Medicare Supplement policy. There are some limitations.
• If you are under 65, and have never purchased a Medicare Supplement policy, even though you were enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, when you turn 65, you have the same enrollment privileges as other beneficiaries – you can purchase any policy you want during the six-month period after your birthday.
• If you try to enroll in a Medicare Supplement after your first six months of eligibility, an insurance company can refuse to sell you a policy or charge you higher premiums based on certain health conditions.