Medicare Open Enrollment Is Oct. 15-Dec. 7, 2016

When’s the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?
Every year, Medicare’s open enrollment period is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7.
What’s the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?
Medicare health and drug plans can make changes each year—things like cost, coverage, and what providers and pharmacies are in their networks. Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 is when all people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year to better meet their needs.
How do people know if they need to change plans?
People in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan should always review the materials their plans send them, like the “Evidence of Coverage” (EOC) and “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC). If their plans are changing, they should make sure their plans will still meet their needs for the following year. If they’re satisfied that their current plans will meet their needs for next year and it’s still being offered, they don’t need to do anything.
When can people get information about next year’s Medicare plans?
Information for next year’s plans will be available beginning in Oct.
Where can people find Medicare plan information or compare plans?
1-800-MEDICARE or Medicare.gov.
Where can CMS partners find information to help people with Medicare with open enrollment?
We have outreach and media materials for English-speaking and other audiences that can help you to help others with Medicare open enrollment.
NJ State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) – The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about their health insurance. SHIP is a statewide program administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services with financial assistance through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare beneficiaries frequently have questions about benefits, claims and supplement policies (known as Medigaps). Volunteer counselors, trained in areas of health insurance coverage and benefits that affect Medicare beneficiaries, provide information and assistance for dealing with claims and in evaluating health insurance options.
Volunteer counselors do not provide legal advice, sell, recommend, endorse any specific insurance product, agent, insurance company or plan. They provide information and assistance so that you can make your own decisions. Counseling is free of charge.