2023 Medicare Open Enrollment Dates: A Complete Guide + Calendar

Updating your coverage under Medicare, the national health insurance program from the federal government that is available to people over 65 and some others living with disabilities, is allowed only during a specific time of the year or under special circumstances.

Known as Medicare open enrollment, it can often be a confusing process trying to understand the options available and the rules that affect the Medicare timeline. We’ve put together this guide and printable calendars to help clarify what you need to know for your 2023 Medicare open enrollment to make the process a smooth one.

Medicare open enrollment takes place from October 15 through December 7, 2022, with coverage changes going into effect on January 1, 2023.

For those currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, there are two windows of time to make adjustments to your coverage. You can make changes during the Medicare open enrollment dates of October 15 through December 7, 2022, to take effect on January 1, 2023.

You also have the option to make changes during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period, which takes place between January 1 through March 31, 2023. New coverage will start the first day of the month after you enroll in the new plan. You may only make adjustments once during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period.

This printable calendar will help you clarify and track the dates you need to remember for the upcoming Medicare open enrollment period.

Medicare open enrollment (OEP) is a period of 52 days — or just over 7 weeks — when Americans currently enrolled in a Medicare plan can switch, drop or add on a health insurance and prescription drug coverage plan. It is also commonly referred to as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). The AEP dates of October 15 through December 7 remain the same every year.

This annual window of time for adjustments to a person’s Medicare plan is important because Medicare health and drug plans experience changes each year. Such changes may impact the providers and pharmacies in a plan’s network, the cost of a plan or the exact coverage included.

Understanding the ins and outs of Medicare plans can be a challenge, so planning ahead for the OEP is a smart idea.

Individuals enrolled in any Medicare health or prescription drug plan should monitor for and review any new materials sent to them by their existing plan. Documents to look for include the “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) and the “Evidence of Coverage” (EOC). Information about the upcoming year’s Medicare plans is made available in early October each year. You can visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE for the most current information.

Once you’ve confirmed that your specific plan is changing, take the time to ensure that your existing plan will continue to meet your needs for the upcoming year. If your plan is still being offered and you believe that it will still satisfy your medical and prescription drug needs, then you do not need to make any changes during the AEP.

If you feel that the pending changes to your existing plan will no longer meet your needs, you should prepare to make adjustments to your coverage during the AEP.

During the OEP from October 15 through December 7, Medicare recipients can make the following changes:

During the Medicare Advantage OEP from January 1 through March 31, only Medicare Advantage plan members can make the following changes:

There are small cost changes to both deductibles and premiums for the various Medicare plans for 2023.

When considering making changes to your Medicare coverage, keep these questions in mind when making your decision or bring them to a Medicare expert who can help:

If you work with an independent insurance agent, they can help you figure out the answers to these questions in order to identify the right Medicare coverage for you.

Bring along our printable calendar detailing the timeline for the 2023 Medicare Advantage open enrollment to help with your planning.

These common questions about the Medicare open enrollment period can clarify lingering confusion about the process.

The Medicare open enrollment period that takes place between October 15 through December 7 is different from the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period, which occurs between January 1 through March 31. While the OEP is open to anyone with Medicare, the Medicare Advantage OEP is open only to individuals with existing Medicare Advantage health care plans. It’s interesting to note that Medicare statistics show that 45% of all Medicare coverage in the United States is from Medicare Advantage plans.

If you determine that you need to make edits to the Medicare selections you’ve already chosen during the OEP — perhaps due to human error or a change in your decision — you are free to revise your enrollment, as long as it takes place before December 7, 2022.

If errors are not identified until after the 2023 OEP, all hope is not lost. Those with a Medicare Advantage plan can address their fixes during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period from January 1 through March 31, 2023. Enrollees are allowed to make a change to their coverage only once during the three-month window.

If you do not have Medicare Advantage, you are not able to make additional changes unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). To find out more about the specific life events that could qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period, visit the Medicare.gov website.

If you miss the entire Medicare open enrollment period for 2023, there is still potential to make changes to your care. Options for getting the changes made include the Medicare Advantage OEP (for those currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan) or by qualifying for a special enrollment period.

According to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the majority of Medicare participants do not switch their Medicare plans during the OEP. Only 6% to 11% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries change their plan.

There are a variety of resources available to assist you with your Medicare enrollment.

Taking the time to better understand Medicare, strategize and plan ahead for the Medicare open enrollment period allows you to optimize your personal health care for the coming year.