The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance regarding the Medicare+Choice (M+C) 2003 Contract Year (CY) enrollment schedule. The instructions reflect a law signed by President Bush in June that postpones restrictions on the ability of M+C enrollees to change plans throughout the year (known as "lock-in"). Pub. L. No. 107-188. See Washington Weekly, June 14, 2002. The lock-in delay will enable enrollees to enroll in or depart from plans without limitations through December 31, 2004, as long as the plan is open for enrollment. 42 U.S.C. § 1395w-21(e)(2).

The timetable below includes important dates for beneficiaries. The CMS guidance can be found online at: <www.cms.gov/healthplans/lock-in/default.asp>

September 9, 2002: Deadline for M+C organizations to submit information to CMS about their 2003 premiums and benefits (called ACRPs) and to notify CMS of non-renewals or reductions in service areas.

September 24, 2002: CMS will post plan in the "Medicare Personal Plan Finder" and "Medicare Health Plan Compare" on the www.medicare.gov website. Information will include a disclaimer, "pending Federal approval" until CMS has approved the plan’s ACRP.

October 2, 2002: Deadline for enrollees to receive non-renewal letters and for plans to publish non-renewal notices in regional newspapers. The 63-day guaranteed issue protections commence for A,B,C, and F Medigap plans.

October 15 - 30, 2002: CMS will mail the CY 2003 "Medicare & You" handbook to beneficiaries.

October 30, 2002: Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letters and Summary of Benefits due to current M+C enrollees. Disclaimers must be included pending ACRP approval.

November 1, 2002: Target date for CMS approval of all M+C ACRPs.

November 15 - December 31, 2002: Annual Election Period, during which all plans must accept new enrollees unless an approved capacity waiver exists. (Note: Changed from prior dates of Nov1 - Nov 30.)

January 1, 2003: Annual CY 2003 benefits commence and another 63-day guaranteed issue period for Medigap A,B,C, and F plans begins. Addenda are due to enrollees if approved ACRs differs from mailed marketing materials.
______________________

        ¹ Text adapted from the National Senior Citizens Law Center’s Washington Weekly, June 19, 2002.

© Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. 04/06/2010