South Carolina Medicare Supplements — When is Open Enrollment?

Posted by J. Garrett Ball, Medicare specialist on July 21, 2009 under Part D, South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans, South Carolina Medicare Supplements | Be the First to Comment

I get asked this question all the time: “I have a Medicare Supplement. When does that open enrollment period start again?” When you have employer-sponsored insurance, as many people do during their working lives, you get accustomed to having a certain period of the year in which you can make changes. Plus, you are inundated with the Medicare Advantage and Part D (prescription drug) advertising, phone calls and mailings trumpeting the onset of the annual open enrollment period.

Overlooked in all of this is the fact that, for South Carolina Medicare Supplement plans, there is no certain open enrollment period. You can change Medicare supplement plans at any time, as long as you can qualify medically.

However, Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription drug coverage plans, do have an annual enrollment period, which runs from Nov 15-Dec. 31 of each calendar year. Then, Medicare Advantage plans have an additional enrollment period (with some stipulations) from Jan. 1-Mar. 31.

If you have a Medicare Supplement, though, don’t be confused. The best time to re-evaluate your coverage and save money is during the middle of the year when no one else is doing it!