Understanding Enrollment

If you apply for a Medicare Advantage plan, what happens next?

• First, we'll review your enrollment application to make sure it's complete. We'll also double-check that you meet all eligibility requirements.
• Next, we'll send you a letter or email to confirm that we've received your enrollment form. We'll also let Medicare know that you've applied to join one of our plans.
• Within 10 calendar days of Medicare confirming your eligibility, we'll let you know when your CareFirst BlueCross Medicare Advantage plan coverage starts.
• Shortly after that, we'll mail your new member welcome packet and your new member ID card. Your welcome packet will provide helpful information about how to get the most from your new plan.

If you have questions, please contact CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage Member Services at 833-536-2001 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. ET, 7 days a week from October 1 through March 31. From April 1 through September 30, our hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m., ET, Mon-Fri.

Rights & Responsibilities Upon Disenrollment

If you decide to disenroll, this means you are ending your plan membership. Disenrollment can be voluntary (your own choice) or involuntary (not your own choice).

You can leave your plan for any reason; however, there are limits to when you can end your membership, how often you can make changes, and what type of plan you can join after you leave.

How do you end your membership in our plan?

Usually, you end your membership by enrolling in another plan during a specific enrollment period (see question "When can you end your membership" listed below). But there are two ways you can ask to be disenrolled:

• Make a request in writing - Member Services by calling the number on the back of your ID card for more information on how to do this.
• Questions about disenrollment? Contact CareFirst Member Services for assistance. Medicare assistance is also available through 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (TTY: 877-486-2048)

When can you end your membership?

There are certain times of the year that all members can leave their Medicare Advantage plan.

1. Annual Election Period

All members can leave the plan during the Annual Election Period, which happens from October 15 to December 7. During this time, you can choose:

• Another Medicare health plan, with or without prescription drug coverage
• Original Medicare, with or without standalone drug coverage

If you disenroll in our plan during the AEP, your membership will end when your new plan's coverage begins on January 1.

2. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

You can also send your membership during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, from January 1 to March 31. During this time, you can:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, with or without prescription drug coverage
• Return to Original Medicare (you will have until March 31 to join a separate Medicare prescription drug plan)

If you disenroll in our plan during Open Enrollment, your membership will end on the first day of the month after we get your request to switch to Original Medicare. If you also choose to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the drug plan gets your enrollment request.

3. Special Enrollment Period

In certain situations, you may be eligible to end your membership at other times of the year if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). To see a full list of examples of situations that meet the criteria for Special Enrollment, visit medicare.gov.

To find out if you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, please call Medicare at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (TTY: 877-486-2048).