Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP)

The Senior Services for South Sound are the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors and are part of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Its program provides free, unbiased and confidential help with Medicare choices. Its volunteers are available year round, not just during Medicare’s Open Enrollment season from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. In fact, if you missed an opportunity to change your Medicare advantage plan there is another window for you.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) is the time when you can switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another, or switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare with or without a Part D plan. The MA OEP occurs each year from January 1 through March 31, and changes take effect on the first of the month following the month you enroll. You can only make one change during the MA OEP. (source: medicareinteractive.org)

If you have questions, whether you are new to Medicare or just need general information and have been enrolled in Medicare for a while, the trained volunteers can help. They also have “Welcome to Medicare” presentations throughout the month, either via Zoom or in person at both the Senior Center in Olympia and the Mason County Senior Activity Center in Shelton (The Pavillion).