Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP)

What Is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. During this time, eligible individuals who are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan may:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or
• Disenroll from their Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)
• If returning to Original Medicare, a stand alone Part D prescription drug plan may be added

Only one change is permitted during OEP, and any updates made will generally take effect the first day of the month after the request is processed.

Who Can Use the Open Enrollment Period?

You may be eligible to use OEP if you are:

• Currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan
• Looking to adjust your coverage based on changes in health needs, provider access, or prescription drug coverage

OEP does not apply to individuals who are enrolled in Original Medicare only

How OEP Is Different from Other Medicare Enrollment Periods

Medicare has several enrollment periods throughout the year, each serving a different purpose:

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

• October 15 – December 7
• Allows most Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in, change, or disenroll from Medicare Advantage or Part D plans

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

• A seven-month period comprising your birth month and the three months directly before or after for when you first become eligible for Medicare

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)

• Triggered by certain life events, such as moving or losing other coverage , or declared for specific areas for other circumstances, such as natural disasters, that may have impeded enrollment.

Understanding which enrollment period applies to your situation can help ensure timely and appropriate coverage decisions.

How to Enroll or Make Changes during OEP

When reviewing your current Medicare Advantage plan, it may be helpful to consider the following:

• Changes in your health care needs
• Whether your preferred doctors or hospitals are in-network
• Prescription drug coverage and formularies
• Plan benefits and cost-sharing structure

Taking time to review these factors can support more confident and informed decisions.

Get More Medicare Information

Clear Spring Health is committed to providing clear, easy-to-understand information to support Medicare education and awareness.
For more details about Medicare enrollment periods, plan types, and general coverage information, explore our additional Medicare
related pages.

• Medicare Advantage (Part C)
• Medicare Chronic Special Needs Plan (C-SNP)