You can enroll in a Medicare plan during one of the following four enrollment periods:

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which begins when you’re first eligible for Medicare
• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which occurs from October 15 through December 7
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP), from January 1 through March 31
• Special Enrollment Period (SEP), during specific personal circumstances

Read more about each of these enrollment periods in the questions below. You can also visit our When to enroll page for more information.

You may join, switch or disenroll from your current Medicare plan during Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), or if you meet certain circumstances during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP). You may also make changes to your Medicare coverage during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), when certain events happen in your life.

For more information on what you can do during different enrollment periods, see the previous questions on this page.

When you enter an enrollment period, there are a few steps you can take to enroll. You can choose one of the following Medicare enrollment options:

1. Enroll on AllinaHealthAetnaMedicare.com
2. Enroll on www.medicare.gov
3. Enroll using the plan’s paper enrollment form
4. Enroll by calling Allina Health | Aetna Medicare at ${dynamicPhone} ${tty}, ${hours}

If you are planning to enroll in Part D prescription drug coverage, it’s important to remember the Part D late enrollment penalty (LEP). You may pay a monthly late enrollment penalty (assessed by Medicare) if all of the following hold true prior to enrollment:

• You went longer than 63 days without creditable prescription drug coverage (as good as Medicare's)
• The 63 days without creditable coverage happened anytime after the end of your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), as described above on this page