Humana Open Enrollment for Medicare

Many Humana Medicare beneficiaries or those who are interested in finding Humana Medicare Advantage plans or Humana Part D Medicare prescription drug plans may be able to sign up for their coverage during the annual fall Medicare open enrollment period, which lasts from October 15 to December 7 each year.

If you’re interested in comparing Humana Medicare Supplement plans and applying for a plan, you can do so at any time of the year, though there are certain times that are better to apply.

It’s important to note that you can’t have a Medicare Supplement plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time.

If this seems confusing, keep reading below for the information you need to navigate the Humana open enrollment process. 

Does Humana Have Open Enrollment?

Humana does not conduct its own Medicare open enrollment period, nor does any other private Medicare insurance company. Humana and all other insurance companies selling Medicare plans participate in the Medicare fall open enrollment period, also called the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP. 

So, when is the Medicare open enrollment? The fall Medicare open enrollment period begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7 every year. For many Medicare beneficiaries, this period signals the only time of year they can make changes to their coverage.

The actions you can perform during AEP include:

• Changing from Original Medicare to a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, if one is offered where you live
• Adding a Humana Medicare Part D plan to your Original Medicare coverage, if one is offered where you live
• Switching from one Humana Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Switching from one Humana Part D plan to another
• Dropping a Humana Medicare Advantage or Part D plan

Any changes you make to your Humana coverage during the fall open enrollment period will become effective Jan. 1 of the upcoming year and remain in effect throughout the calendar year. 

The fall Medicare open enrollment period does not apply to Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans from Humana or any other carrier. As mentioned above, you may apply for a Medigap plan any time of the year, though your best time to apply is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which is a six-month period that starts as soon as you are at least 65 years old and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

Is There a Grace Period for Medicare Open Enrollment?

Dec. 7 is a hard deadline for the fall Medicare open enrollment period. To make any changes during this time, they must be made by the close of business on Dec. 7.

However, there is a grace period of sorts for those with Medicare Advantage plans. The Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (not to be confused with the fall open enrollment period) runs from Jan. 1 through March 31 each year. During this time, Medicare Advantage plan holders may switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another or drop their plan and return to Original Medicare. 

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan but fail to make any changes during AEP, the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period serves as a second chance to get the coverage that better fits your needs. Or, if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during AEP but have second thoughts, this enrollment period provides you with an opportunity to undo your decision.   

What Is ICEP Enrollment?

ICEP enrollment is your “initial coverage enrollment period,” which is very similar to your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period.

Your Medicare IEP is your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period. This is the first time that you can enroll in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B.

Your Medicare IEP and your Medicare ICEP are very similar and often happen during roughly the same period.

If you enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B when you turn 65, your ICEP will run concurrently with your IEP. Your IEP is an enrollment period that begins three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your birthday and continues for three more months, for a total of seven months.

Medicare Part B is optional, and some people choose to delay their Part B enrollment. If you do not sign up for Part B during your IEP but then sign up for it later on, your ICEP will begin three months before your Part B coverage is set to begin, and it will end on the last day of the month before your Part B coverage begins.

Am I Eligible for a Special Enrollment Period?

A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is an enrollment period that is only granted to Medicare beneficiaries who experience a qualifying life event, or “special” circumstance. Each SEP may come with its own rules about the types of changes you can make to your coverage, but the changes you can make during a Special Enrollment Period are typically similar those you can make during AEP.

The duration of an SEP may also differ from case to case. Some of the circumstances that can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period include:

• Moving to a new address that is outside the service area of your current plan or presents new plan options
• Moving back to the U.S. after living in another country
• Being released from jail
• Moving into, living in or moving out of a skilled nursing facility or other institution
• Losing or gaining Medicaid eligibility
• Leaving employer coverage
• Involuntarily losing coverage

The above examples are just a sample of the different circumstances that may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period.  

Does Humana Replace Medicare?

It can be said that a Humana Medicare Advantage plan “replaces” Medicare in a sense. You will still be technically enrolled in Original Medicare and must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premiums, as Original Medicare enrollment is a requirement for Medicare Advantage enrollment. This is true not just for Humana but for all Medicare Advantage plans provided by all insurance carriers. 

But while you will still be technically enrolled in Original Medicare, your benefits will come from your Humana Medicare Advantage plan. 

In the case of a Humana Medicare Part D plan, your Humana plan is not replacing your Original Medicare coverage. Medicare Part D plans provide coverage for prescription drug coverage and are used in addition to your Original Medicare benefits. 

If you are already enrolled in a Humana plan, call the phone number on your plan ID card or log into your My Humana account for help with your benefits. 

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