Enrollment

Whether you're enrolling in Blue Cross MedicareRx for the first time or switching your Blue Cross MedicareRx plan, there are three ways you can enroll.

Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) evaluates Medicare plans based on a 5-star rating system, with 5 stars being the highest score a plan can receive. More stars indicate better performance and quality.

Learn more about star ratings.

Enrollment Periods

There are four enrollment periods for Blue Cross MedicareRx plans. Review them to find which one is right for you.

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

Anyone can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MAPD) plan between October 15 and December 7. If you apply during this time, coverage begins on January 1.

Open Enrollment Period (OEP)

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) is January 1 through March 31 each year. During this time, you may enroll in another MAPD plan or switch to Original Medicare with or without a stand-alone Part D plan. You can only make one election, or plan change, during the MA OEP. You are also eligible to use the MA OEP if you are a new Medicare beneficiary who enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP). In this case, the OEP occurs from the month of eligibility to Part A and Part B through the last day of the third month of eligibility.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

When you are first eligible for Medicare, you can join during the seven-month period that begins three months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months after the month you turn 65.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

In most cases, you must stay enrolled in the plan for the calendar year when your coverage began. You may be able to join, switch or drop a Medicare prescription drug plan during a Special Enrollment Period. Here are some, but not all, of the reasons you may need to change plans during an SEP.

• You move outside of the plan's approved service area
• You enter or leave a qualified institution, such as a nursing home
• You qualify for low-income subsidy assistance
• You enroll in Medicaid
• You Involuntarily lose creditable prescription drug coverage
• You leave or lose your employer's health plan

Contact your plan if any of these situations apply to you. For more information, refer to the Medicare & You handbook.

Extra Financial Help

After You Enroll

Disenrolling From Your Plan