Medicare enrollment periods: use official current guidance
PlainMedicare does not determine eligibility, enrollment windows, penalties, or a recommended coverage choice.
One enrollment-window fact this data can show
208 of 4,533 rated plans in this extract (4.6%) currently hold a 5-star CMS rating. CMS lets a 5-star plan accept new enrollees at any time during the year, not just during Open Enrollment, that Special Enrollment Period rule is one of the few enrollment-timing facts this directory can source directly.
- 208
- 5-star plans, this extract
- 4,533
- rated plans total
- Year-round
- SEP window for 5-star plans
5-star counts are the plans_unique star-rating extract, current for the 2026 plan year. Confirm current SEP eligibility on Medicare.gov.
Verify the current rule with the official source
Enrollment periods and the consequences of a change depend on individual circumstances. Use Medicare.gov’s current enrollment guidance for official information, and contact Medicare or a qualified local assistance program for help with an individual situation.
Why this site does not publish an enrollment timetable
A general timetable cannot determine a person’s eligibility, available enrollment opportunity, or result. Those questions can depend on facts that are not in a CMS plan-directory record. PlainMedicare does not collect those facts or decide whether an enrollment rule applies.
Use a directory page only to locate plan data
County and plan pages can identify CMS-reported plan records and selected published fields. They do not confirm that a person can join a plan or establish when a change can be made. Treat the directory page as a source-labeled research page, not an enrollment service.
Confirm current information close to the decision
Official guidance and plan materials can be updated. When researching a current question, go back to Medicare.gov and the plan’s current materials rather than relying on an older saved page. Record the date checked so that later readers can understand which version of a source was reviewed.
Keep a plan record separate from an eligibility result
A plan appearing in a county directory does not itself establish availability to a particular person. It also does not establish coverage, costs, or an appropriate choice. PlainMedicare does not turn plan presence into an enrollment recommendation or outcome.
Use official help for an individual situation
If a question requires a determination about timing, eligibility, coverage, or enrollment, use the contact and help paths offered by Medicare.gov. This directory cannot make that determination. Its role is limited to presenting the CMS plan data that is available in the sourced database.
A source-first research sequence
- Start with current official guidance. Read the Medicare.gov page that applies to the current question.
- Keep the question descriptive. A directory record cannot decide whether a rule applies to a person.
- Use a plan page only for plan data. It may identify a CMS record, not an enrollment result.
- Save the source and date checked. That makes clear which official publication was reviewed.
- Use official help for a determination. PlainMedicare does not assess eligibility or advise on enrollment timing.
Why the boundary matters
Explaining where to verify a rule is different from determining how that rule applies to an individual. PlainMedicare keeps that distinction clear and directs personal questions to official help.
Sources
What the 5-star exception actually covers
A year-round SEP applies to a specific plan tier, confirm it before assuming it applies to you.
- Only 208 plans in this extract are 5-star, most enrollment changes still happen during Open Enrollment or a qualifying event. See 5-star plans
- A 5-star SEP lets you switch INTO a 5-star plan, it does not extend every enrollment window. Medicare.gov: when to sign up
- Confirm a 5-star plan is actually offered in your county before counting on the SEP rule. Browse by state
5-star counts and the SEP rule are CMS program facts, not an eligibility determination for any individual. Confirm current enrollment rules on Medicare.gov.
PlainMedicare is rendered directly from CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D public files, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a correction. Data current as of 2026 plan year.