Question

Alice is enrolled in a MA-PD plan. She makes a permanent move across the country and wonders what her options are for continuing MA-PD coverage. What would you say to her in regard to a special enrollment period (SEP)?
a. She is likely to qualify for a SEP. She can choose an effective date of up to six months after the month in which the enrollment form is received by the new plan, but the effective date may not be earlier than 30 days prior to the date of her move.
b. She is likely to qualify for a SEP. She can choose an effective date of up to three months after the month in which the enrollment form is received by the new plan, but the effective date may not be earlier than the date of her permanent move.
c. She is unlikely to qualify for a SEP but will be automatically covered by Original Medicare and a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
d. She is unlikely to qualify for a SEP and should remain on her current plan, relying on her current plan’s out-of-network benefits.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. She is likely to qualify for a SEP. She can choose an effective date of up to three months after the month in which the enrollment form is received by the new plan, but the effective date may not be earlier than the date of her permanent move.

Explanation:

If Alice moves across the country, she is eligible for a SEP. The effective date of the enrollment is correlated with the date the MA organization receives the request.

She will be able choose an effective date of up to three months after the organization receives her request. However, this effective date might not be sooner than the day she moves to her new state/city of residence.

• For instance, if the organization receives Alice's request in August, she is able to choose either the 1st of September, October, or November.