The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP for short, is a window of time every year - from October 15th to December 7th, where Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans. Any plan changes made during AEP will go into effect on January 1 of the following year. 

 

During AEP, Medicare beneficiaries can do the following:

• Switch to a new Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan.

• Switch from a Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug plan into a Medicare Advantage plan.

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare and a stand alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan. You can also sign up for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan during this time, but note that you must be able to pass medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue situation.

• Switch to a new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan