When Is the Kaiser Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

Medicare and other types of health insurance may use various enrollment periods during which people can sign up for coverage. Health insurance companies often do not set their own enrollment periods. Rather, each insurer typically abides by the enrollment periods established by the federal government.

If you’re considering a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan from Kaiser Permanente, it’s helpful to understand your Medicare open enrollment periods and other eligibility requirements before it’s time to sign up for a Medicare plan.

This guide will help prepare you for when and how to enroll in a Kaiser Medicare plan. We also include resources below for those wanting to learn more about enrollment in other types of Kaiser health plans.

Open Enrollment for Kaiser Medicare Plans

Kaiser Permanente sells Medicare Advantage plans that provide all of the same coverage as Original Medicare, and plans may offer additional benefits that you won’t find in either Medicare Part A or Part B. 

Open enrollment for Kaiser Medicare Advantage plans takes place during the annual fall Medicare Open Enrollment Period which begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7 each year. If you enroll in a Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan during this time, your coverage will take effect on Jan. 1 of the following year. 

You also have an opportunity to enroll when you first become eligible for Medicare. Your Initial Enrollment Period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after and allows you to sign up for Kaiser Medicare Advantage plans that will take effect on the first day of your birthday month.

Open Enrollment for Kaiser Marketplace (Obamacare) Plans

If you aren’t eligible for Medicare or nearing eligibility, and if you’re looking to enroll in an ACA (Obamacare) Marketplace health insurance plan from Kaiser, you may typically do so between November 1 and January 15 of the following year.

For example, Obamacare open enrollment for 2024 coverage started Nov. 1, 2023, and ends on Jan. 15, 2024. 

Enroll by Dec. 15 each year so your coverage can take effect on Jan. 1 of the following year. Visit the Kaiser Family Foundation informational website to learn more about when you can enroll in Obamacare plans from Kaiser or other insurance carriers. 

Open Enrollment for Kaiser Medicaid Plans

Medicaid eligibility and enrollment works differently in each state.

Visit the Kaiser Medicaid plan page to learn more about Kaiser Medicaid open enrollment in your state. 

Open Enrollment for Kaiser Employer-Based Plans

If your employer offers Kaiser health insurance as a company benefit, speak to your human resources manager for information about when and how to enroll. You may typically enroll in employer-based health insurance soon after being hired or after a qualifying life event.