Medicare enrollment

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP)

Also called: MA OEP, OEP, Medicare Advantage OEP

Definition

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 to March 31 and lets people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan make one change: switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

MA OEP is narrower than AEP. It only applies to people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, and they get one change during the window.

For agencies, the first quarter is when new clients who enrolled during AEP discover how their plan works in practice. A short check-in campaign in January catches problems early, before a client makes that change with someone else.

Why it matters

A client who is unhappy in January can leave during MA OEP. Early follow-up protects the business written during AEP.

Example

"Our January check-in goes to every client who joined a Medicare Advantage plan during AEP, before MA OEP gives them a reason to switch."

Common question

What should Medicare agents do for clients during MA OEP?

Check in early in January with clients who enrolled during AEP, answer questions about how their plan works, and fix problems before a client uses their one MA OEP change elsewhere.

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