Open Enrollment Period
What is Open Enrollment Period
Open Enrollment is the period of time when individuals can enroll in or make changes to their health insurance coverage. In the state of New Jersey, the open enrollment period for Medicare is typically from November 1 to January 31 each year. During this time, individuals who are enrolled in Medicare can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa. They can also enroll in a stand-alone prescription drug plan.
It is important to note that there are also special enrollment periods (SEP) which allow individuals to make changes to their coverage outside of the open enrollment period. These are triggered by certain life events, such as losing employer-based coverage or moving to a new area.
From
October 15th
To
December 7th
What is Special Event Period
Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) are specific periods of time when individuals can enroll in or make changes to their health insurance coverage outside of the regular open enrollment period. These periods are triggered by certain life events such as losing employer-based coverage, getting married, having a baby, or moving to a new area.
SEPs are specific to certain types of insurance. For example, with Medicare, these events will trigger a Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which allows an individual to enroll in, dis-enroll from, or switch between Medicare Advantage and original Medicare or enroll in a prescription drug plan.
Some examples of events that can trigger a Medicare SEP include:
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Losing employer-based coverage
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Moving to a new area
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Turning 65 and becoming eligible for Medicare
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Entering or leaving a nursing home
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Gaining or losing Medicaid eligibility
It's important to note that the period of time for a SEP varies depending on the event and on the type of insurance.​
If you experience a qualifying event that triggers a SEP, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to enroll or make changes to your coverage.