When does enrollment from AEP become effective?

Enrollment from the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) becomes effective on January 1st of the following year. AEP typically runs from October 15th to December 7th each year, allowing eligible individuals to enroll in or change their Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans. The effective date of these enrollments aligns with the start of the new calendar year, thus ensuring that beneficiaries have access to their selected plans and benefits right from January 1st. This is crucial for individuals to maintain uninterrupted healthcare coverage, particularly since many Medicare benefits reset annually.