Medicare Renewal: Understanding Enrollment and Renewal Requirements
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, people with certain disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Once you are enrolled in Medicare, you are generally required to renew your coverage every year.
Enrollment periods
There are two main enrollment periods for Medicare:
- Initial Enrollment Period: This is a seven-month period that begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after the month you turn 65. During this period, you can enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). You can also enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
- General Enrollment Period: This is a one-month period that runs from January 1 to January 31 each year. During this period, you can enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B if you did not enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period. You can also make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan during this period.
Medicare renewal periods
Renewal periods
Medicare coverage generally renews automatically every year. However, there are a few exceptions:
- If you make changes to your Medicare coverage during the General Enrollment Period, your coverage will not renew automatically. You will need to take action to renew your coverage.
- If you move out of the service area of your current Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, your coverage will not renew automatically. You will need to choose a new plan in your new service area.
- If you lose your eligibility for Medicare, your coverage will not renew automatically. You will need to contact Social Security to find out if you are still eligible for Medicare.
What to do when you renew your Medicare coverage
When you renew your Medicare coverage, you should review your current coverage and compare it to other plans available in your area. You may want to consider making changes to your coverage, such as switching to a different Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
You can renew your Medicare coverage online, by phone, or by mail. To renew your coverage online, you can go to the Medicare website. To renew your coverage by phone, you can call the Medicare number at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). To renew your coverage by mail, you can use the form CMS-1050.
Help with Medicare renewal
If you need help renewing your Medicare coverage, you can contact your local Social Security office or a Medicare-approved insurance counselor. You can also find more information about Medicare renewal on the Medicare website.
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