Question

Mrs. Schneider has Original Medicare Parts A and B and has just qualified for her state’s Medicaid program, so the state is now paying her Part B premium and she is considered a dual eligible. Will gaining eligibility for this program affect her ability to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug plan?

Answer 1

Answer: a. Yes. Qualifying for this state program gives Mrs. Schneider access to a Special Election Period that allows her to make changes to her MA and/or Part D enrollment at any time.

Step-by-step explanation:

Special Election periods allow for Medicare beneficiaries to be able to make changes to their Medical Advantage and/or Part D enrollment at any time within the period outside the normal annual enrollment period or after the end of the beneficiary's initial enrollment period.

The Special Election Period is accessible to Medicare beneficiaries in light of certain events such as them losing their other coverage or if they are now eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid as Mrs. Schneider is as well as some other eligible events according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.