Important Changes to the Medicare Open Enrollment Period in After 2010

For many years up to 2010 seniors enrolled in Medicare health plan were able to switch from one plan to another during the months of January, February, and March. This 'Open Enrollment Period' will however no longer be available in 2011.

Therefore seniors will have only one chance to change their Medicare health policy: between November 15th and December 31st. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, after January 1, 2011 you will be locked in for the whole year - unless you decide to dis-enroll from your plan and go back to traditional Medicare.

From January 1st to February 15th, 2011, seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage policies will be allowed to dis-enroll from their plan. If your Advantage plan includes drug coverage you will be allowed to sign up for a stand-alone Part D policy to replace the drug coverage that was included in your Medicare Advantage.

A year is a long time to wait to make changes, particularly in this economic environment, so it is very important for you to review any paperwork you may receive from your Medicare Advantage carrier in November 2010 if your plan makes some big changes.

If you want to shop around for another Advantage insurance later this year, you will only have November 15th to December 31st of 2010 to do so. In case you might discover in January 2011 that your Medicare health insurance is not ideal you will be unable to switch to another Advantage plan.

Your only recourse will be to dis-enroll from your current Advantage plan policy and return to traditional Medicare.

Do you need more info about Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans? Visit: http://www.medicareadvantagesupplement.info