Medicare enrollment periods: Jan. 1 through March 31

From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

General Enrollment Period

If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part A (if you have to buy it) and/or Part B (for which you must pay premiums) during your Initial Enrollment Period, and you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up during the annual General Enrollment Period, Jan. 1 through March 31.

Your coverage won’t start until July 1, and you may have to pay a higher Part A and/or Part B premium due to late enrollment.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan, your Open Enrollment Period runs Jan. 1 through March 31.

It gives you a chance to switch back to Original Medicare or change to a different Medicare Advantage plan, depending on which coverage works better for you.

For more information on both these enrollment periods, read our webpage When can I sign up for Medicare Parts A and B? (www.insurance.wa.gov/when-can-i-sign-medicare-parts-and-b).

If you need help, call our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program at 1-800-562-6900 and ask for your local SHIBA office.