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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

How to enroll in a FIDE SNP

MMAI Members

Members of an MMAI plan offered by Aetna, Humana, Meridian, and Molina 

  •  CMS will automatically enroll these members in the Illinois FIDE SNP offered by these companies with a start date of January 1, 2026.
    • These members do not need to take any action. They will receive an Annual Notice of Change from the FIDE SNP by September 30, 2025 informing them of this transition and their options to select other forms of coverage.
    • These members can enroll in other forms of coverage, including other FIDE SNPs, beginning October 15, 2025. See Key Medicare Enrollment Events and Dates.   

Members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield MMAI Plan 

  • These members can choose to enroll in one of the Illinois FIDE SNPs or other forms of coverage beginning October 15, 2025. See Key Medicare Enrollment Events and Dates.  
    • If these members do not make an active enrollment choice prior to December 31, 2025, CMS will automatically enroll them in Original Medicare with a Medicare drug plan starting January 1, 2026. 

Members not in MMAI who are eligible for FIDE SNP Enrollment

Follow these steps to enroll

  • Visit Medicare.gov, select the “Find Plans Now” button, and follow the steps to view Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans available in your zip code. Make sure to select “Medicaid” when asked if you get help with your Medicare health or drug costs. Please note that information about Calendar Year 2026 plans will not be available in  Medicare.gov until a few days before October 15, 2025. 
  • Call the plan or visit their website. Websites are active beginning  October 1, 2025.
  • Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. 

Key Medicare Enrollment Events and Dates

Open Enrollment Period (OEP) 

OEP is a chance to review your current Medicare plans and compare all the 2025 health and prescription drug options. 

  • October 15 – December 7 of each year
  • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage)
  • Switch from Original Medicare  to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
  • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if a member is in Original Medicare.
  • Coverage starts January 1 of the next year (the plan must get your enrollment request by December 7)

Special Enrollment  Periods (SEP) for Dually Eligible Individuals Throughout the Calendar Year

Integrated Care SEP:

o   In Illinois,  members eligible for a FIDE SNP can enroll once-per-month in a FIDE SNP using the Integrated Care SEP.

o   In Calendar Year 2025, coverage will begin January 1, 2026 because January 1, 2026 is the first date that FIDE SNP coverage begins in Illinois.

o  Beginning January 1, 2026, coverage will start the first of the month after the plan gets your request

Dual/LIS SEP: 

o   Once-per-month, any dually eligible member in a Medicare Advantage Plan, including a FIDE SNP, can choose to go back to Original Medicare and a standalone prescription drug plan (PDP) and switch between standalone PDPs using the Dual/LIS SEP.

o   Coverage will start the first of the month after the plan gets your disenrollment request. 

  • The Integrated Care SEP and the Dual/LIS SEP won’t allow enrollment into non-D-SNP Medicare Advantage Plans or switching between the non-D-SNP Medicare Advantage plans. 

Other Medicare Enrollment Periods

  • In addition to the CMS open enrollment period and the special enrollment periods above, there are other opportunities to enroll in Medicare .
  • See this link for more information about the various Medicare enrollment periods.