Thanks to the 21st Century Cures Act that was recently signed into law, a new enrollment period for Medicare Advantage will open in 2019.

Under the current structure, AEP running October 15th - December 7th, Medicare Advantage plan members are allowed to switch Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans, as well as return to original Medicare and purchase a Medicare Supplement if they choose.  There is no limit to how many times they can switch, but the selection made by December 7th is final.  Following AEP is the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period which is January 1st-February 14th.  During this period, a Medicare Advantage plan member has the ability to disenroll from their current Medicare Advantage Plan and return to original Medicare and purchase a Medicare supplement plan if they choose.  They can only purchase a new Part D Prescription drug plan if they disenrolled from an MAPD.

In 2019, the new enrollment period will run January 1st - March 31st and will allow Medicare Advantage Plan members to disenroll from their current plan and switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan one time only within the period.  They will also be able to return to original Medicare and purchase a Medicare supplement if they choose, but this is not Guaranteed Issue business.  Like the disenrollment period, members can only enroll into a new Part D plan if they have disenrolled from an MAPD.

You can read the bill by clicking here.