Special Election Periods (SEPs) for Parts C & D

Special Election Periods (SEPs) exist for Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (Prescription Drug) plans under certain circumstances. SEPs allow you to enroll in or disenroll from a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan or Part D plan depending on your situation:

• If you’re in an MA plan that is terminating at the end of the year (December 31), you have an SEP to either enroll in another MA plan or return to Original Medicare. This SEP is from October 1 – January 31. Note: In 2010, this SEP has been extended to February 28.
• If you move out of your plan's service area, you have a 2-month SEP to enroll in a new plan offered in your new residence area. This SEP begins either the date of your permanent move or the date you notify your plan of your move, whichever is later.
• If you enroll in an MA plan during the Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP) around your 65th birthday, you have a 12-month SEP to disenroll and return to Original Medicare.
• If your creditable prescription drug coverage through your employer health plan ends, you have a 2-month SEP to enroll in a Part D plan, starting the day you lose coverage.
• If you are eligible for full Medi-Cal benefits, you have an ongoing SEP to enroll in or change MA or Part D plans.
• If you lose your full Medi-Cal benefits, you have a 3-month SEP to change MA or Part D plans, starting the month you receive notice of the eligibility loss.
• If you become eligible for the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) or extra help, you have an ongoing SEP to change MA-PD or Part D plans as long as you qualify for the subsidy. You can change plans on a monthly basis.
• If you lose the LIS, you have a 2-month SEP to change MA-PD or Part D plans starting the month you receive notice of the subsidy loss.
• If you enroll in Part B during the General Enrollment Period (GEP), but are not entitled to Part A without paying a premium, you have a SEP to enroll in a Part D plan between April 1 and June 30. If you enroll in a Part D plan during this SEP, your plan becomes effective July 1.

Note: Part B also has a SEP, but it stands for Special Enrollment Period. This SEP is for people who have employer group coverage and delay enrollment in Part B. When a person's employer coverage or employment ends (whichever is sooner), he/she has an 8-month SEP to enroll in Part B without a penalty. See If You Delay Enrolling in Part B.

See also:

• Enrolling In Medicare Parts A and B
• Enrolling in Medicare Part C
• Enrolling in Medicare Part D