Medicare Open Enrollment Starts and Ends Earlier This Year

Article date: October 5, 2011

The open enrollment period for Medicare coverage is October 15 through December 7, 2011 – several weeks earlier than last year. During open enrollment, people with Medicare can change their health and drug plans without penalty. The government decided to push up the dates this year so that participants can receive plan materials and membership cards by January 1, 2012, when new coverage starts.

Because changes are made to the Medicare plans every year, it’s a good idea to review all the materials carefully and decide whether your current plans are the best ones to meet your needs. That way you’ll be ready if you do decide to make a change.

Among its wide range of health benefits, Medicare helps pay for costs associated with the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer. For instance, Medicare covers counseling to quit smoking, screening tests for breast, colon, cervical and prostate cancers, and many cancer drugs. Learn more about Medicare and cancer coverage at cancer.org/medicare.

Reviewed by: Members of the ACS Medical Content Staff

ACS News Center stories are provided as a source of cancer-related news and are not intended to be used as press releases.