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When a Non-Renewing Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan reassigns members to another plan does the SEP through February apply?

Category: Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)
Updated: Jul, 10 2023


No.  The Special Enrollment Period through end of February for Service Area Reduction or Medicare plan cancellation Special Enrollment Period (SAR SEP) would NOT apply.

This Special Enrollment Period only applies to Medicare plan members who are not reassigned to a new Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan. However, it is interesting to note that in situations where members of a Medicare Advantage plan are NOT reassigned as well as those situation where members ARE reassigned to a new plan, both receive the Guaranteed Issue Right for Medigap* -- should they wish to return to Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement.

The Medicare Managed Care Manual in Chapter 2 - Medicare Advantage Enrollment and Disenrollment,
Section 30.4.3 - SEPs for Non-renewals or Terminations states...

"...Non-renewals - A SEP exists for members of MA plans that will be affected by plan or contract non-renewals and plan service area reductions that are effective January 1 of the contract year. In order to provide sufficient time for members to evaluate their options, the SEP begins December 8 and ends on the last day in February of the following year..."

Section 30.4.3 closes with "Note: Approved plan consolidations are neither terminations nor non-renewals. Thus individuals affected by plan consolidations are not eligible for the SEP for non-renewals or terminations."

It is important for people who receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) stating that they will be reassigned to a new Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan for the new plan year review their plan options carefully and if necessary select a new Medicare plan during the annual Open Enrollment Period (October 15th through December 7th).

Annual Medicare plan changes and plan crosswalks (reassignments) can be viewed in our PDP-Compare and MA-Compare tools.  These tools highlight changes in Medicare Part D plan features from one plan year to the next.  They can be accessed directly at PDP-Compare.com and MA-Compare.com.  You can go right to your state by following the link with your state code.  Example: PDP-Compare.com/FL.  For Medicare Advantage plans, following the link with your ZIP code.  Example: MA-Compare.com/90001.

(*noted in a CMS memo dated May 7, 2009)





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