Medicare's annual open enrollment is underway and runs through Dec. 7. Changes take effect Jan. 1, and Medicare.gov says your plan must receive your enrollment request by Dec. 7.
What you can change
- Join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage plans, with or without drug coverage
- Join, drop or switch Part D drug plans if you're in Original Medicare
- Move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or back
KFF notes that people who skipped Part D when first eligible can enroll now, but may owe a late-enrollment penalty if they lacked comparable drug coverage. If you switch to Original Medicare, you may need a separate drug plan and may want Medigap, which has limits on when you can buy it.
Free help
California's Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, HICAP, offers free, confidential one-on-one counseling on Medicare, Medi-Cal and long-term care insurance, according to the California Department of Aging. HICAP can also help with appeals and denials. Find your county's office through the Department of Aging's "Find Services in My County" page.