During this period, you can switch from Medicare Advantage plans or switch back to traditional Medicare. If switching back to original Medicare you’re encouraged to pick up a Part D drug plan during this time so there will be no gap in coverage

If you currently have Original Medicare this is the time period you can enroll or re-enroll in Part D coverage or Medicare Advantage plans. Coverage will begin on January 1 the following year.

If you were not automatically enrolled in Medicare, and you missed your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), you will have to wait until this enrollment period to sign up for coverage. Your coverage will then begin on July 1 of the year you enroll.

YOU MAY FACE LATE ENROLLMENT PENALTIES AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE WITHOUT COVERAGE IF YOU MISS YOUR IEP

You can wait to enroll in Part B and not incur a premium penalty if you had coverage through your job or your spouse’s job at the time you became eligible for Medicare. You can enroll while you’re still covered and for another eight months after you lose your group coverage or you (or your spouse) stop working.

You may qualify to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or make changes to your existing Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage during Medicare’s Special Enrollment Period when certain events happen in your life – such as you change where you live or you lose your current insurance coverage

Each scenario has specific rules about when you can make changes and the type of changes you can make.