Important Changes to the Medicare Open Enrollment Period in After 2010

For many years up to 2010 seniors enrolled incoverage that was included in your Medicare
Medicare health plan were able to switch from oneAdvantage.
plan to another during the months of January,A year is a long time to wait to make changes,
February, and March. This 'Open Enrollment Period' willparticularly in this economic environment, so it is very
however no longer be available in 2011.important for you to review any paperwork you may
Therefore seniors will have only one chance toreceive from your Medicare Advantage carrier in
change their Medicare health policy: betweenNovember 2010 if your plan makes some big changes.
November 15th and December 31st. If you are enrolledIf you want to shop around for another Advantage
in a Medicare Advantage plan, after January 1, 2011insurance later this year, you will only have November
you will be locked in for the whole year - unless you15th to December 31st of 2010 to do so. In case you
decide to dis-enroll from your plan and go back tomight discover in January 2011 that your Medicare
traditional Medicare.health insurance is not ideal you will be unable to switch
From January 1st to February 15th, 2011, seniorsto another Advantage plan.
enrolled in Medicare Advantage policies will be allowedYour only recourse will be to dis-enroll from your
to dis-enroll from their plan. If your Advantage plancurrent Advantage plan policy and return to traditional
includes drug coverage you will be allowed to sign upMedicare.
for a stand-alone Part D policy to replace the drug