Important Dates

Important Medicare Dates to Remember

October 1, 2009

The first day you’ll be able to gather information and evaluate Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for coverage in 2010.

November 15–December 31, 2009 (Annual Election Period)

This is the time of year Medicare sets aside for an Annual Election. You can join a Medicare Advantage or Part D Plan from the Universal American family of companies or switch from another plan.

January 1, 2010

If you enrolled in a Medicare Part D Plan from Universal American between November 15 and December 31, 2009, this is the first day your coverage begins.

January 1–March 31, 2010 (Medicare Open Enrollment Period)

This is your opportunity to enroll in, disenroll from, or change to a like-to-like Medicare Advantage plan (only once) during this period. If you have Part D prescription drug coverage only (PDP), or have it as part of a Medicare Advantage plan (MA-PD), you may:

• Change your MA-PD plan to a different MA-PD plan
• Change your MA-PD plan to Original Medicare and a PDP
• Change your Original Medicare and a PDP to a Medicare Advantage plan with PDP
• Change a Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan
• Change your Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare
• Change your Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan

Special Election Period

You can join a plan, switch to another plan or drop your Medicare drug coverage in certain situations such as:

• You qualify for Medicare’s Extra Help program
• You lose creditable prescription drug coverage
• You moved to a different service area

Your 65th Birthday

For a majority of eligible Americans, this marks the beginning of your Medicare years. (Remember, you can enroll three months before your 65th birthday, during your birthday month, and up to three months after.)