Ending your Membership Information

Voluntarily Ending Your Membership

There are only certain times during the year when you may voluntarily end your membership in our Plan. The time to make changes is the Medicare fall open enrollment period (also known as the “Annual Election Period”), which occurs from November 15 - December 31. Any changes you make during this time are effective January 1.

If you want to enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan:
Join the new plan. You will be disenrolled from our plan when your new plan’s coverage begins on January 1.

If you want to switch to the Original Medicare Plan and join a Medicare Prescription drug plan:
Join the new Medicare Prescription drug plan. You will be disenrolled automatically from our plan when your new coverage begins on January 1.

If you want to switch to the Original Medicare Plan without a Medicare Prescription drug plan:
Contact Member Services for information on how to request disenrollment. Your enrollment in Original Medicare will be effective January 1.

Until Your Membership Ends, You Must Continue Getting Your Medicare Services Through Our Plan
If you leave our Plan, it may take some time for your membership to end and your new Medicare plan to take effect. While you are waiting for your membership to end, you are still a member and must continue to get your care and/or prescription drugs as usual through our Plan.

We Cannot Ask You to Leave the Plan Because of Your Health.
We cannot ask you to leave your health plan for any health-related reasons.

Involuntarily Ending Your Membership

If any of the following situations occur, we will end your membership in our Plan.

•   If you do not stay continuously enrolled in Medicare A and B.

•   If you move out of the service area or are away from the service area for more than 6 months you cannot remain a   member of our Plan and we must end your membership (“disenroll you”). If you plan to move or take a long trip,   please call Member Services to find out if the place you are moving to or traveling to is in our Plan’s service area.

•   If you knowingly falsify or withhold information about other parties that provide reimbursement for your prescription   drug coverage.

•   If you intentionally give us incorrect information on your enrollment request that would affect your eligibility to enroll   in our Plan.

•   If you behave in a way that is disruptive, to the extent that your continued enrollment seriously impairs our ability to   arrange or provide medical care for you or for others who are members of our Plan. We cannot make you leave our   Plan for this reason unless we get permission first from Medicare.

•   If you let someone else use your plan membership card to get medical care. If you are disenrolled for this reason, CMS   may refer your case to the Inspector General for additional investigation.

You Have the Right to Make a Complaint if We End Your Membership in Our Plan
If we end your membership in our Plan we will tell you our reasons in writing and explain how you may file a complaint against us if you want to.