During the MA OEP (January 1 to March 31) Medicare Advantage plan enrollees may enroll in another MA plan or disenroll from their MA plan and return to Original Medicare. Individuals may make only one election during the MA OEP. Individuals enrolled in an MA plan may add or drop Part D coverage during the MA OEP.
Individuals enrolled in either MA-PD or MA-only plans can switch to:
- MA-PD
- MA-only
- Original Medicare (with or without a stand-alone Part D plan)
The effective date for an MA OEP election is the first of the month following receipt of the enrollment request.
If returning to Original Medicare, the individual can apply for a Medicare supplement. It is important to understand if the individual will need to be health underwritten for a Medicare supplement.