For this subpart, all references to an MA plan include MA-PD and both MA local and MA regional plans, as defined in § 422.2 unless specifically noted otherwise.

(a) An individual is eligible to elect an MA plan if he or she meets all of the following:;

(1) Is entitled to Medicare under Part A and enrolled in Part B (except that an individual entitled only to Part B and who was enrolled in an HMO or CMP with a risk contract under part 417 of this chapter on December 31, 1998 may continue to be enrolled in the MA organization as an MA plan enrollee).

(2) For coverage before January 1, 2021, has not been medically determined to have end-stage renal disease, except that—

(i) An individual who develops end-stage renal disease while enrolled in an MA plan or in a health plan offered by the MA organization is eligible to elect an MA plan offered by that organization;

(ii) An individual with end-stage renal disease whose enrollment in an MA plan was terminated or discontinued after December 31, 1998, because CMS or the MA organization terminated the MA organization's contract for the plan or discontinued the plan in the area in which the individual resides, is eligible to elect another MA plan. If the plan so elected is later terminated or discontinued in the area in which the individual resides, he or she may elect another MA plan; and

(iii) An individual with end-stage renal disease may elect an MA special needs plan as defined in § 422.2, as long as that plan has opted to enroll ESRD individuals.

(3) Meets either of the following residency requirements:

(i) Resides in the service area of the MA plan.

(ii) Resides outside of the service area of the MA plan and is enrolled in a health plan offered by the MA organization during the month immediately preceding the month in which the individual is entitled to both Medicare Part A and Part B, provided that an MA organization chooses to offer this option and that CMS determines that all applicable MA access requirements of § 422.112 are met for that individual through the MA plan's established provider network. The MA organization must furnish the same benefits to these enrollees as to enrollees who reside in the service area;

(4) Has been a member of an Employer Group Health Plan (EGHP) that includes the elected MA plan, even if the individual lives outside of the MA plan service area, provided that an MA organization chooses to offer this option and that CMS determines that all applicable MA access requirements at § 422.112 are met for that individual through the MA plan's established provider network. The MA organization must furnish the same benefits to all enrollees, regardless of whether they reside in the service area.

(5) Completes and signs an election form or completes another CMS-approved election method offered by the MA organization and provides information required for enrollment.

(6) Agrees to abide by the rules of the MA organization after they are disclosed to him or her in connection with the election process.

(7) Is a United States citizen or is lawfully present in the United States as determined in 8 CFR 1.3.

(b) An MA eligible individual may not be enrolled in more than one MA plan at any given time.

(a) General rule. In order to elect a specialized MA plan for a special needs individual (Special Needs MA plan, or SNP), the individual must meet the eligibility requirements specified in this section.

(b) Basic eligibility requirements. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, to be eligible to elect an SNP, an individual must:

(1) Meet the definition of a special needs individual, as defined at § 422.2;

(2) Meet the eligibility requirements for that specific SNP, including any additional eligibility requirements established in the State Medicaid agency contract (as described at § 422.107(a)) for dual eligible special needs plans; and

(3) Be eligible to elect an MA plan under § 422.50.

(c) Exception to § 422.50. For plan years beginning before January 1, 2021, CMS may waive § 422.50(a)(2) concerning the exclusion of persons with ESRD.

(d) Deeming continued eligibility. If an SNP determines that the enrollee no longer meets the eligibility criteria, but can reasonably be expected to again meet that criteria within a 6-month period, the enrollee is deemed to continue to be eligible for the MA plan for a period of not less than 30 days but not to exceed 6 months.

(e) Restricting enrollment. An SNP must restrict future enrollment to only special needs individuals as established under § 422.2.

(f) Establishing eligibility for enrollment. (1) For enrollments into an SNP that exclusively enrolls individuals that have severe or disabling chronic conditions (C-SNP), the organization must contact the applicant's current health care provider, who is a physician as defined in section 1861(r)(1) of the Act, physician assistant as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)(A) of the Act and who meets the qualifications specified in § 410.74(c) of this chapter, or a nurse practitioner as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)(A) of the Act and who meets the qualifications specified in § 410.75(b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this chapter to confirm that the applicant has the qualifying condition(s). The organization must obtain this information in one of the following two ways described in paragraph (f)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section:

(i) Contact the current health care provider or current health care provider's office and obtain verification of the applicant's condition(s) prior to enrollment in a form and manner authorized by CMS.

(ii) Through an assessment with the enrollee using a pre-enrollment qualification assessment tool (PQAT) where the assessment and the information gathered are verified (as described in paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section) before the end of the first month of enrollment in the C-SNP. Use of a PQAT requires the following:

(A) The PQAT must do all of the following:

(1) Include clinically appropriate questions relevant to the chronic condition(s) on which the C-SNP focuses.

(2) Gather sufficient reliable evidence of having the applicable condition using the applicant's past medical history, current signs or symptoms, and current medications.

(3) Include the date and time of the assessment completion if done face-to-face with the applicant, or the receipt date if the C-SNP receives the completed PQAT by mail or by electronic means (if available).

(4) Include a signature line for and, once completed, be signed by the current health care provider specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section to confirm the individual's eligibility for C-SNP enrollment.

(B) The C-SNP conducts a post-enrollment confirmation of each enrollee's information and eligibility by having the completed PQAT reviewed and signed by the enrollee's current health care provider as specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section.

(C) The C-SNP must include the information gathered in the PQAT and used in this verification process in its records related to or about the enrollee that are subject to the confidentiality requirements in § 422.118.

(D)(1) The C-SNP tracks the total number of enrollees and the number and percent by condition whose post-enrollment verification matches the pre-enrollment assessment.

(2) Data and supporting documentation are made available upon request by CMS.

(E) If the organization does not obtain verification of the enrollees' required chronic condition(s) by the end of the first month of enrollment in the C-SNP, the organization must—

(1) Disenroll the enrollee as of the end of the second month of enrollment; and

(2) Send the enrollee notice of the disenrollment within the first 7 calendar days of the second month of enrollment.

(F) The organization must maintain the enrollment of the individual if verification of the required condition(s) is obtained at any point before the end of the second month of enrollment.

(iii) Prior to enrollment, the PQAT must be completed by the enrollee, completed by the enrollee's current health care provider, or administered with the enrollee by a provider employed or contracted by the plan. The PQAT must be signed by the enrollee's current health care provider as verification and confirmation that the enrollee has the severe or disabling chronic condition required to be eligible for the C-SNP, which may be done post-enrollment.

(2) [Reserved]

(g) Special eligibility rule for certain C-SNPs. For C-SNPs that use a group of multiple severe or disabling chronic conditions as described in § 422.4(a)(1)(iv) of this chapter, special needs individuals need only have one of the qualifying severe or disabling chronic conditions in order to be eligible to enroll.

(a) Basic eligibility requirements. To be eligible to elect an MA senior housing facility plan, the individual must meet both of the following:

(1) Be a resident of an MA senior housing facility defined in § 422.2.

(2) Be eligible to elect an MA plan under § 422.50.

(b) Restricting enrollment. An MA senior housing facility plan must restrict enrollment to only those individuals who reside in a continuing care retirement community as defined at § 422.133(b)(2).

(c) Establishing eligibility for enrollment. An MA senior housing facility plan must verify the eligibility of each individual enrolling in its plan using a CMS approved process.

(a) Definition. Continuation area means an additional area (outside the service area) within which the MA organization offering a local plan furnishes or arranges to furnish services to its continuation-of-enrollment enrollees. Enrollees must reside in a continuation area on a permanent basis. A continuation area does not expand the service area of any MA local plan.

(b) Basic rule. An MA organization may offer a continuation of enrollment option to MA local plan enrollees when they no longer reside in the service area of a plan and permanently move into the geographic area designated by the MA organization as a continuation area. The intent to no longer reside in an area and permanently live in another area is verified through documentation that establishes residency, such as a driver's license or voter registration card.

(c) General requirements. (1) An MA organization that wishes to offer a continuation of enrollment option must meet the following requirements:

(i) Obtain CMS's approval of the continuation area, the communication materials that describe the option, and the MA organization's assurances of access to services.

(ii) Describe the option(s) in the member materials it offers and make the option available to all MA local plan enrollees residing in the continuation area.

(2) An enrollee who moves out of the service area and into the geographic area designated as the continuation area has the choice of continuing enrollment or disenrolling from the MA local plan. The enrollee must make the choice of continuing enrollment in a manner specified by CMS. If no choice is made, the enrollee must be disenrolled from the plan.

(d) Specific requirements—(1) Continuation of enrollment benefits. The MA organization must, at a minimum, provide or arrange for the Medicare-covered benefits as described in § 422.101(a).

(2) Reasonable access. The MA organization must ensure reasonable access in the continuation area—

(i) Through contracts with providers, or through direct payment of claims that satisfy the requirements in § 422.100(b)(2), to other providers who meet the requirement in subpart E of this part; and

(ii) By ensuring that the access requirements of § 422.112 are met.

(3) Reasonable cost sharing. For services furnished in the continuation area, an enrollee's cost-sharing liability is limited to the cost-sharing amounts required in the MA local plan's service area (in which the enrollee no longer resides).

(4) Protection of enrollee rights. An MA organization that offers a continuation of enrollment option must convey all enrollee rights conferred under this rule, with the understanding that—

(i) The ultimate responsibility for all appeals and grievance requirements remain with the organization that is receiving payment from CMS; and

(ii) Organizations that require enrollees to give advance notice of intent to use the continuation of enrollment option, must stipulate the notification process in the communication materials.

(e) Capitation payments. CMS's capitation payments to all MA organizations, for all Medicare enrollees, are based on rates established on the basis of the enrollee's permanent residence, regardless of where he or she receives services.

(a) General. An individual is not eligible to elect an MA MSA plan unless the individual provides assurances that are satisfactory to CMS that he or she will reside in the United States for at least 183 days during the year for which the election is effective.

(b) Individuals eligible for or covered under other health benefits program. Unless otherwise provided by the Secretary, an individual who is enrolled in a Federal Employee Health Benefit plan under 5 U.S.C. chapter 89, or is eligible for health care benefits through the Veteran's Administration under 10 U.S.C. chapter 55 or the Department of Defense under 38 U.S.C. chapter 17, may not enroll in an MA MSA plan.

(c) Individuals eligible for Medicare cost-sharing under Medicaid State plans. An individual who is entitled to coverage of Medicare cost-sharing under a State plan under title XIX of the Act is not eligible to enroll in an MA MSA plan.

(d) Other limitations. An individual who receives health benefits that cover all or part of the annual deductible under the MA MSA plan may not enroll in an MA MSA plan. Examples of this type of coverage include, but are not limited to, primary health care coverage other than Medicare, current coverage under the Medicare hospice benefit, supplemental insurance policies not specifically permitted under § 422.104, and retirement health benefits.

An RFB society that offers an MA RFB plan may offer that plan only to members of the church, or convention or group of churches with which the society is affiliated.

(a) Acceptance of enrollees: General rule. (1) Except for the limitations on enrollment in an MA MSA plan provided by § 422.62(d)(1) and except as specified in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section, each MA organization must accept without restriction (except for an MA RFB plan as provided by § 422.57) individuals who are eligible to elect an MA plan that the MA organization offers and who elect an MA plan during initial coverage election periods under § 422.62(a)(1), annual election periods under § 422.62(a)(2), and under the circumstances described in § 422.62(b)(1) through (b)(4).

(2) MA organizations must accept elections during the open enrollment periods specified in § 422.62(a)(3) and (4) if their MA plans are open to new enrollees.

(3) Dual eligible special needs plans must limit enrollments to those individuals who meet the eligibility requirements established in the state Medicaid agency contract, as specified at § 422.52(b)(2).

(b) Capacity to accept new enrollees. (1) MA organizations may submit information on enrollment capacity of plans.

(2) If CMS determines that an MA plan offered by an MA organization has a capacity limit, and the number of MA eligible individuals who elect to enroll in that plan exceeds the limit, the MA organization offering the plan may limit enrollment in the plan under this part, but only if it provides priority in acceptance as follows:

(i) First, for individuals who elected the plan prior to the CMS determination that capacity has been exceeded, elections will be processed in chronological order by date of receipt of their election forms.

(ii) Then for other individuals in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of any factor related to health as described in § 422.110.

(3) CMS considers enrollment limit requests for an MA plan service area, or a portion of the plan service area, only if the health and safety of beneficiaries is at risk, such as if the provider network is not available to serve the enrollees in all or a portion of the service area.

(c) Election forms and other election mechanisms. (1) The election must comply with CMS instructions regarding content and format and be approved by CMS as described in § 422.2262. The election must be completed by the MA eligible individual (or the individual who will soon become eligible to elect an MA plan) and include authorization for disclosure and exchange of necessary information between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its designees and the MA organization. Persons who assist beneficiaries in completing forms must sign the form, or through other approved mechanisms, indicate their relationship to the beneficiary.

(2) The MA organization must file and retain election forms for the period specified in CMS instructions.

(d) When an election is considered to have been made. An election in an MA plan is considered to have been made on the date the completed election is received by the MA organization.

(e) Handling of elections. The MA organization must have an effective system for receiving, controlling, and processing elections. The system must meet the following conditions and requirements:

(1) Each election is dated as of the day it is received in a manner acceptable to CMS.

(2) Elections are processed in chronological order, by date of receipt.

(3) The MA organization gives the beneficiary prompt notice of acceptance or denial in a format specified by CMS.

(4) If the MA plan is enrolled to capacity, it explains the procedures that will be followed when vacancies occur.

(5) Upon receipt of the election, or for an individual who was accepted for future enrollment from the date a vacancy occurs, the MA organization transmits, within the timeframes specified by CMS, the information necessary for CMS to add the beneficiary to its records as an enrollee of the MA organization.

(f) Exception for employer group health plans. (1) In cases in which an MA organization has both a Medicare contract and a contract with an employer group health plan, and in which the MA organization arranges for the employer to process elections for Medicare-entitled group members who wish to enroll under the Medicare contract, the effective date of the election may be retroactive. Consistent with § 422.308(f)(2), payment adjustments based on a retroactive effective date may be made for up to a 90-day period.

(2) In order to obtain the effective date described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the beneficiary must certify that, at the time of enrollment in the MA organization, he or she received the disclosure statement specified in § 422.111.

(3) Upon receipt of the election from the employer, the MA organization must submit the enrollment within timeframes specified by CMS.

(g) Passive enrollment by CMS—(1) Circumstances in which CMS may implement passive enrollment. CMS may implement passive enrollment procedures in any of the following situations:

(i) Immediate terminations as provided in § 422.510(b)(2)(i)(B).

(ii) CMS determines that remaining enrolled in a plan poses potential harm to the members.

(iii) CMS determines, after consulting with the State Medicaid agency that contracts with the dual eligible special needs plan that is described in paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section and meets the requirements of paragraph (g)(2) of this section, that the passive enrollment will promote integrated care and continuity of care for a full-benefit dual eligible beneficiary (as defined in § 423.772 of this chapter and entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B under title XVIII) who is currently enrolled in an integrated dual eligible special needs plan.

(2) MA plans that may receive passive enrollments. CMS may implement passive enrollment described in paragraph (g)(1)(iii) of this section only into MA-PD plans that meet all the following requirements:

(i) Operate as a fully integrated dual eligible special needs plan or highly integrated dual eligible special needs plan.

(ii) Have substantially similar provider and facility networks and Medicare- and Medicaid-covered benefits as the plan (or plans) from which the beneficiaries are passively enrolled.

(iii) Have an overall quality rating from the most recently issued ratings, under the rating system described in §§ 422.160 through 422.166, of at least 3 stars or is a low enrollment contract or new MA plan as defined in § 422.252.

(iv) Not have any prohibition on new enrollment imposed by CMS.

(v) Have limits on premiums and cost-sharing appropriate to full-benefit dual eligible beneficiaries.

(vi) Have the operational capacity to passively enroll beneficiaries and agree to receive the enrollments.

(3) Passive enrollment procedures. Individuals will be considered to have elected the plan selected by CMS unless they—

(i) Decline the plan selected by CMS, in a form and manner determined by CMS, or

(ii) Request enrollment in another plan.

(4) Beneficiary notification. The MA organization that receives the passive enrollment must provide to the enrollee:

(i) In the case of a passive enrollment described in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, a notice that describes the costs and benefits of the plan and the process for accessing care under the plan and clearly explains the beneficiary's ability to decline the enrollment or choose another plan. This notice must be provided to all potential passively-enrolled enrollees, in a form and manner determined by CMS, prior to the enrollment effective date (or as soon as possible after the effective date if prior notice is not practical).

(ii) In the case of a passive enrollment described in paragraph (g)(1)(iii) of this section, two notices that describe the costs and benefits of the plan and the process for accessing care under the plan and clearly explain the beneficiary's ability to decline the enrollment or choose another plan.

(A) The first notice described in paragraph (g)(4)(ii) of this section must be provided, in a form and manner determined by CMS, no fewer than 60 calendar days prior to the enrollment effective date.

(B) The second notice described in paragraph (g)(4)(ii) of this section must be provided, in a form and manner determined by CMS, no fewer than 30 days prior to the enrollment effective date.

(5) Special election period. In the case of a passive enrollment described in this paragraph, individuals will be provided with a special enrollment period described in at § 423.38(c)(10) of this chapter.

(h) Notification of reinstatement based on beneficiary cancellation of new enrollment. When an individual is disenrolled from an MA plan due to the election of a new plan, the MA organization must reinstate the individual's enrollment in that plan if the individual cancels the election in the new plan within timeframes established by CMS. The MA organization offering the plan from which the individual was disenrolled must send the member notification of the reinstatement within 10 calendar days of receiving confirmation of the individual's reinstatement.

(i) Authorized representatives. As used in this subpart, an authorized representative is an individual who is the legal representative or otherwise legally able to act on behalf of an enrollee, as the law of the State in which the beneficiary resides may allow, in order to execute an enrollment or disenrollment request.

(1) The authorized representative would constitute the “beneficiary” or the “enrollee” for the purpose of making an election.

(2) Authorized representatives may include court-appointed legal guardians, persons having durable power of attorney for health care decisions, or individuals authorized to make health care decisions under state surrogate consent laws, provided they have the authority to act for the beneficiary in this capacity.

(a) General: Coverage election periods—(1) Initial coverage election period for MA. The initial coverage election period is the period during which a newly MA-eligible individual may make an initial election. This period begins 3 months before the month the individual is first entitled to both Part A and Part B and ends on the later of—

(i) The last day of the second month after the month in which they are first entitled to Part A and enrolled in Part B; or

(ii) If after May 15, 2006, the last day of the individual's Part B initial enrollment period.

(2) Annual coordinated election period. (i) For 2002 through 2010, except for 2006, the annual coordinated election period for the following calendar year is November 15 through December 31.

(ii) For 2006, the annual coordinated election period begins on November 15, 2005 and ends on May 15, 2006.

(iii) Beginning in 2011, the annual coordinated election period for the following calendar year is October 15 through December 7.

(iv) During the annual coordinated election period, an individual eligible to enroll in an MA plan may change his or her election from an MA plan to Original Medicare or to a different MA plan, or from Original Medicare to an MA plan. If an individual changes his or her election to Original Medicare, he or she may also elect a PDP.

(3) Open enrollment period for individuals enrolled in MA—(i) For 2019 and subsequent years. Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(3)(ii) and (iii) and (a)(4) of this section, an individual who is enrolled in an MA plan may make an election once during the first 3 months of the year to enroll in another MA plan or disenroll to obtain Original Medicare. An individual who chooses to exercise this election may also make a coordinating election to enroll in or disenroll from Part D, as specified in § 423.38(e) of this chapter.

(ii) Newly eligible MA individual. For 2019 and subsequent years, a newly MA eligible individual who is enrolled in a MA plan may change his or her election once during the period that begins the month the individual is entitled to both Part A and Part B and ends on the last day of the third month of the entitlement. An individual who chooses to exercise this election may also make a coordinating election to enroll in or disenroll from Part D, as specified in § 423.38(e) of this chapter.

(iii) Single election limitation. The limitation to one election or change in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section does not apply to elections or changes made during the annual coordinated election period specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, or during a special election period specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(4) Open enrollment period for institutionalized individuals. After 2005, an individual who is eligible to elect an MA plan and who is institutionalized, as defined in § 422.2, is not limited (except as provided for in paragraph (d) of this section for MA MSA plans) in the number of elections or changes he or she may make.

(i) Subject to the MA plan being open to enrollees as provided under § 422.60(a)(2), an MA eligible institutionalized individual may at any time elect an MA plan or change his or her election from an MA plan to Original Medicare, to a different MA plan, or from Original Medicare to an MA plan.

(ii) The open enrollment period for institutionalized individuals ends on the last day of the second month after the month the individual ceases to reside in one of the long-term care facility settings described in the definition of “institutionalized” in § 422.2.

(5) Annual 45-day period for disenrollment from MA plans to Original Medicare. Through 2018, at any time from January 1 through February 14, an individual who is enrolled in an MA plan may elect Original Medicare once during this 45-day period. An individual who chooses to exercise this election may also make a coordinating election to enroll in a PDP as specified in § 423.38(d) of this chapter.

(b) Special election periods (SEPs). An individual may at any time (that is, not limited to the annual coordinated election period) discontinue the election of an MA plan offered by an MA organization and change his or her election from an MA plan to original Medicare or to a different MA plan under any of the following circumstances:

(1) CMS or the organization has terminated the organization's contract for the plan, discontinued the plan in the area in which the individual resides, or the organization has notified the individual of the impending termination of the plan, or the impending discontinuation of the plan in the area in which the individual resides.

(2) The individual is not eligible to remain enrolled in the plan because of a change in his or her place of residence to a location out of the service area or continuation area or other change in circumstances as determined by CMS but not including terminations resulting from a failure to make timely payment of an MA monthly or supplemental beneficiary premium, or from disruptive behavior. Also eligible for this SEP are individuals who, as a result of a change in permanent residence, have new MA plan options available to them.

(3) The individual demonstrates to CMS that—

(i) The organization offering the plan substantially violated a material provision of its contract under this part in relation to the individual, including, but not limited to the following:

(A) Failure to provide the beneficiary on a timely basis medically necessary services for which benefits are available under the plan.

(B) Failure to provide medical services in accordance with applicable quality standards; or

(ii) The organization (or its agent, representative, or plan provider) materially misrepresented the plan's provisions in communications as outlined in subpart V of this part.

(4) The individual is making an MA enrollment request into or out of an employer sponsored MA plan, is disenrolling from an MA plan to take employer sponsored coverage of any kind, or is disenrolling from employer sponsored coverage (including COBRA coverage) to elect an MA plan. This SEP is available to individuals who have (or are enrolling in) an employer or union sponsored MA plan and ends 2 months after the month the employer or union coverage of any type ends. The individual may choose an effective date that is not earlier than the first of the month following the month in which the election is made and no later than up to 3 months after the month in which the election is made.

(5) The individual is enrolled in an MA plan offered by an MA organization that has been sanctioned by CMS and elects to disenroll from that plan in connection with the matter(s) that gave rise to that sanction.

(i) Consistent with disclosure requirements at § 422.111(g), CMS may require the MA organization to notify current enrollees that if the enrollees believe they are affected by the matter(s) that gave rise to the sanction, the enrollees are eligible for a SEP to elect another MA plan or disenroll to original Medicare and enroll in a PDP.

(ii) The SEP starts with the imposition of the sanction and ends when the sanction ends or when the individual makes an election, whichever occurs first.

(6)(i) The individual is enrolled in a section 1876 cost contract that is not renewing its contract for the area in which the enrollee resides.

(ii) This SEP begins December 8 of the then-current contract year and ends on the last day of February of the following year.

(7) The individual is disenrolling from an MA plan to enroll in a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organization or is enrolling in an MA plan after disenrolling from a PACE organization.

(i) An individual who disenrolls from PACE has a SEP for 2 months after the effective date of PACE disenrollment to elect an MA plan.

(ii) An individual who disenrolls from an MA plan has a SEP for 2 months after the effective date of MA disenrollment to elect a PACE plan.

(8) The individual terminated a Medigap policy upon enrolling for the first time in an MA plan and is still in a “trial period” and eligible for “guaranteed issue” of a Medigap policy, as outlined in section 1882(s)(3)(B)(v) of the Act.

(i) This SEP allows an eligible individual to make a one-time election to disenroll from his or her first MA plan to join original Medicare at any time of the year.

(ii) This SEP begins upon enrollment in the MA plan and ends after 12 months of enrollment or when the individual disenrolls from the MA plan, whichever is earlier.

(9) Until December 31, 2020, the individual became entitled to Medicare based on ESRD for a retroactive effective date (whether due to an administrative delay or otherwise) and was not provided the opportunity to elect an MA plan during his or her Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP).

(i) The individual may prospectively elect an MA plan offered by an MA organization, provided—

(A) The individual was enrolled in a health plan offered by the same MA organization the month before their entitlement to Parts A and B;

(B) The individual developed ESRD while a member of that health plan; and

(C) The individual is still enrolled in that health plan.

(ii) This SEP begins the month the individual receives the notice of the Medicare entitlement determination and continues for 2 additional calendar months after the month the notice is received.

(10) The individual became entitled to Medicare for a retroactive effective date (whether due to an administrative delay or otherwise) and was not provided the opportunity to elect an MA plan during their initial coverage election period (ICEP). This SEP begins the month the individual receives the notice of the retroactive Medicare entitlement determination and continues for 2 additional calendar months after the month the notice is received. The effective date would be the first of the month following the month in which the election is made but would not be earlier than the first day of the month in which the notice of the Medicare entitlement determination is received by the individual.

(11)(i) The individual enrolled in an MA special needs plan (SNP) and is no longer eligible for the SNP because he or she no longer meets the applicable special needs status.

(ii) This SEP begins the month the individual's special needs status changes and ends when the individual makes an enrollment request or 3 calendar months after the effective date of involuntary disenrollment from the SNP, whichever is earlier.

(12) The individual belongs to a qualified State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP) and is requesting enrollment in an MA-PD plan.

(i) The individual may make one MA election per year.

(ii) This SEP is available while the individual is enrolled in the SPAP and, upon loss of eligibility for SPAP benefits, for an additional 2 calendar months after either the month of the loss of eligibility or notification of the loss, whichever is later.

(13)(i) The individual has severe or disabling chronic conditions and is eligible to enroll into a Chronic Care SNP designed to serve individuals with those conditions. The SEP is for an enrollment election that is consistent with the individual's eligibility for a Chronic Care SNP. Individuals enrolled in a Chronic Care SNP who have a severe or disabling chronic condition which is not a focus of their current SNP are eligible for this SEP to request enrollment in a Chronic Care SNP that focuses on this other condition. Individuals who are found after enrollment not to have the qualifying condition necessary to be eligible for the Chronic Care SNP are eligible for a SEP to enroll in a different MA plan.

(ii) This SEP is available while the individual has the qualifying condition and ends upon enrollment in the Chronic Care SNP. This SEP begins when the MA organization notifies the individual of the lack of eligibility and extends through the end of that month and the following 2 calendar months. The SEP ends when the individual makes an enrollment election or on the last day of the second of the 2 calendar months following notification of the lack of eligibility, whichever occurs first.

(14) The individual is enrolled in an MA-PD plan and requests to disenroll from that plan to enroll in or maintain other creditable prescription drug coverage.

(i) This SEP is available while the individual is enrolled in an MA-PD plan. The effective date of disenrollment from the MA plan is the first day of the month following the month a disenrollment request is received by the MA organization.

(ii) Permissible enrollment changes during this SEP are to disenroll from an MA-PD plan and elect original Medicare or to elect an MA-only plan, resulting in disenrollment from the MA-PD plan.

(15) The individual is requesting enrollment in an MA plan offered by an MA organization with a Star Rating of 5 Stars. An individual may use this SEP only once for the contract year in which the MA plan was assigned a 5-star overall performance rating, beginning the December 8th before that contract year through November 30th of that contract year.

(16) The individual is a non-U.S. citizen who becomes lawfully present in the United States.

(i) This SEP begins the month the individual attains lawful presence status and ends the earlier of when the individual makes an enrollment election or 2 calendar months after the month the individual attains lawful presence status.

(ii) [Reserved]

(17) The individual was adversely affected by having requested, but not received, required notices or information in an accessible format, as outlined in section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 within the same timeframe that the MA organization or CMS provided the same information to individuals who did not request an accessible format.

(i) The SEP begins at the end of the election period during which the individual was seeking to make an enrollment election and the length is at least as long as the time it takes for the information to be provided to the individual in an accessible format.

(ii) MA organizations may determine eligibility for this SEP when the criterion is met, ensuring adequate documentation of the situation, including records indicating the date of the individual's request, the amount of time taken to provide accessible versions of the requested materials and the amount of time it takes for the same information to be provided to an individual who does not request an accessible format.

(18) Individuals affected by an emergency or major disaster declared by a Federal, State or local government entity are eligible for an SEP to make an MA enrollment or disenrollment election. The SEP starts as of the date the declaration is made, the incident start date or, if different, the start date identified in the declaration, whichever is earlier. The SEP ends 2 full calendar months following the end date identified in the declaration or, if different, the date the end of the incident is announced, the date the incident automatically ends under applicable state or local law, or, if the incident end date is not otherwise identified, the incident end date specified in paragraph (b)(18)(i) of this section.

(i) If the incident end date of an emergency or major disaster is not otherwise identified, the incident end date is 1 year after the SEP start date; or, if applicable, the date of a renewal or extension of the emergency or disaster declaration, whichever is later. The maximum length of this SEP, if the incident end date is not otherwise identified, is 14 full calendar months after the SEP start date or, if applicable, the date of a renewal or extension of the emergency or disaster declaration.

(ii) (A) Resides, or resided at the start of the SEP eligibility period described in this paragraph (b)(18), in an area for which a federal, state or local government entity has declared an emergency or major disaster; or

(B) Does not reside in an affected area but relies on help making healthcare decisions from one or more individuals who reside in an affected area; and

(iii) Was eligible for another election period at the time of the SEP eligibility period described in this paragraph (b)(18); and

(iv) Did not make an election during that other election period due to the emergency or major disaster.

(19) The individual experiences an involuntary loss of creditable prescription drug coverage, including a reduction in the level of coverage so that it is no longer creditable and excluding any loss or reduction of creditable coverage that is due to a failure to pay premiums.

(i) The individual is eligible to request enrollment in an MA-PD plan.

(ii) The SEP begins when the individual is notified of the loss of creditable coverage and ends 2 calendar months after the later of the loss (or reduction) or the individual's receipt of the notice.

(iii) The effective date of this SEP is the first of the month after the enrollment election is made or, at the individual's request, may be up to 3 months prospective.

(20) The individual was not adequately informed of a loss of creditable prescription drug coverage, or that they never had creditable coverage. CMS determines eligibility for this SEP on a case-by-case basis, based on its determination that an entity offering prescription drug coverage failed to provide accurate and timely disclosure of the loss of creditable prescription drug coverage or whether the prescription drug coverage offered is creditable.

(i) The individual is eligible for one enrollment in, or disenrollment from, an MA-PD plan.

(ii) This SEP begins the month of CMS' determination and continues for 2 additional calendar months following the determination.

(21) The individual's enrollment or non-enrollment in an MA-PD plan is erroneous due to an action, inaction, or error by a Federal employee.

(i) The individual is permitted enrollment in, or disenrollment from, the MA-PD plan, as determined by CMS.

(ii) This SEP begins the month of CMS approval of this SEP on the basis that the individual's enrollment was erroneous due to an action, inaction, or error by a Federal employee and continues for 2 additional calendar months following this approval.

(22) The individual is eligible for an additional Part D Initial Election Period, such as an individual currently entitled to Medicare due to a disability and who is attaining age 65.

(i) The individual is eligible to make an MA election to coordinate with the additional Part D Initial Election Period.

(ii) The SEP may be used to disenroll from an MA plan, with or without Part D benefits, to enroll in original Medicare, or to enroll in an MA plan that does not include Part D benefits, regardless of whether the individual uses the Part D Initial Election Period to enroll in a PDP.

(iii) The SEP begins and ends concurrently with the additional Part D Initial Election Period.

(23) Individuals affected by a significant change in plan provider network are eligible for a SEP that permits disenrollment from the MA plan that has changed its network to another MA plan or to original Medicare. This SEP can be used only once per significant change in the provider network.

(i) The SEP begins the month the individual is notified of eligibility for the SEP and extends an additional 2 calendar months thereafter.

(ii) An enrollee is affected by a significant network change when the enrollee is assigned to, currently receiving care from, or has received care within the past 3 months from a provider or facility being terminated from the provider network.

(iii) When instructed by CMS, the MA plan that has significantly changed its network must issue a notice, in the form and manner directed by CMS, that notifies enrollees who are eligible for this SEP of their eligibility for the SEP and how to use the SEP.

(24) The individual is enrolled in a plan offered by an MA organization that has been placed into receivership by a state or territorial regulatory authority. The SEP begins the month the receivership is effective and continues until it is no longer in effect or until the enrollee makes an election, whichever occurs first. When instructed by CMS, the MA plan that has been placed under receivership must notify its enrollees, in the form and manner directed by CMS, of the enrollees' eligibility for this SEP and how to use the SEP.

(25) The individual is enrolled in a plan that has been identified with the low performing icon in accordance with § 422.166(h)(1)(ii). This SEP exists while the individual is enrolled in the low performing MA plan.

(26) The individual enrolls in Medicare premium-Part A or Part B using an exceptional condition SEP, as described in 42 CFR 406.27 and 407.23. The SEP begins when the individual submits their application for premium-Part A and Part B, or Part B only, if the individual is already entitled to Part A (or is enrolling in premium-free Part A within the timeframe for use of this SEP), and continues for the first 2 months beyond the premium-Part A and/or Part B entitlement date. The MA plan enrollment is effective the first of the month following the month the MA plan receives the enrollment request.

(27) The individual meets such other exceptional conditions as CMS may provide.

(c) Special election period for individual age 65. Effective January 1, 2002, an MA eligible individual who elects an MA plan during the initial enrollment period, as defined under section 1837(d) of the Act, that surrounds his or her 65th birthday (this period begins 3 months before and ends 3 months after the month of the individual's 65th birthday) may discontinue the election of that plan and elect coverage under original Medicare at any time during the 12-month period that begins on the effective date of enrollment in the MA plan.

(d) Special rules for MA MSA plans—(1) Enrollment. An individual may enroll in an MA MSA plan only during an initial coverage election period or annual coordinated election period described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.

(2) Disenrollment. (i) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section, an individual may disenroll from an MA MSA plan only during—

(A) An annual election period; or

(B) The special election period described in paragraph (b) of this section.

(ii) Exception. An individual who elects an MA MSA plan during an annual election period and has never before elected an MA MSA plan may revoke that election, no later than December 15 of that same year, by submitting to the organization that offers the MA MSA plan a signed and dated request in the form and manner prescribed by CMS or by filing the appropriate disenrollment form through other mechanisms as determined by CMS.

Each MA organization must provide, on an annual basis, and in a format and using standard terminology that may be specified by CMS, the information necessary to enable CMS to provide to current and potential beneficiaries the information they need to make informed decisions with respect to the available choices for Medicare coverage.

(a) Enrollment. An individual who wishes to elect an MA plan offered by an MA organization may make or change his or her election during the election periods specified in § 422.62 by filing the appropriate election form with the organization or through other mechanisms as determined by CMS.

(b) Disenrollment—(1) Basic rule. An individual who wishes to disenroll from an MA plan may change his or her election during the election periods specified in § 422.62 in either of the following manners:

(i) Elect a different MA plan by filing the appropriate election with the MA organization.

(ii) Submit a request for disenrollment to the MA organization in the form and manner prescribed by CMS or file the appropriate disenrollment request through other mechanisms as determined by CMS.

(2) When a disenrollment request is considered to have been made. A disenrollment request is considered to have been made on the date the disenrollment request is received by the MA organization.

(3) Responsibilities of the MA organization. The MA organization must—

(i) Submit a disenrollment notice to CMS within timeframes specified by CMS;

(ii) Provide enrollee with notice of disenrollment in a format specified by CMS; and

(iii) In the case of a plan where lock-in applies, include in the notice a statement explaining that he or she—

(A) Remains enrolled until the effective date of disenrollment; and

(B) Until that date, neither the MA organization nor CMS pays for services not provided or arranged for by the MA plan in which the enrollee is enrolled; and

(iv) File and retain disenrollment requests for the period specified in CMS instructions.

(v) In the case of an incomplete disenrollment request—

(A) Document its efforts to obtain information to complete the disenrollment request;

(B) Notify the individual (in writing or verbally) within 10 calendar days of receipt of the disenrollment request.

(C) The organization must deny the request if any additional information needed to make the disenrollment request “complete” is not received within the following timeframes:

(1) For disenrollment requests received during the AEP, by December 7, or within 21 calendar days of the request for additional information, whichever is later.

(2) For disenrollment requests received during all other election periods, by the end of the month in which the disenrollment request was initially received, or within 21 calendar days of the request for additional information, whichever is later.

(4) Effect of failure to submit disenrollment notice to CMS promptly. If the MA organization fails to submit the correct and complete notice required in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, the MA organization must reimburse CMS for any capitation payments received after the month in which payment would have ceased if the requirement had been met timely.

(5) Retroactive disenrollment. CMS may grant retroactive disenrollment in the following cases:

(i) There never was a legally valid enrollment.

(ii) A valid request for disenrollment was properly made but not processed or acted upon.

(6) When a disenrollment request is considered incomplete. A disenrollment request is considered to be incomplete if the required but missing information is not received by the MA organization within the timeframe specified in paragraph (b)(3)(v)(C) of this section.

(c) Election by default: Initial coverage election period—(1) Basic rule. Subject to paragraph (c)(2) of this section, an individual who fails to make an election during the initial coverage election period is deemed to have elected original Medicare.

(2) Default enrollment into MA dual eligible special needs plan—(i) Conditions for default enrollment. During an individual's initial coverage election period, an individual may be deemed to have elected a MA special needs plan for individuals entitled to medical assistance under a State plan under Title XIX (including a fully integrated dual eligible special needs plan as defined in § 422.2) offered by the organization provided all the following conditions are met:

(A) At the time of the deemed election, the individual remains enrolled in an affiliated Medicaid managed care plan. For purposes of this section, an affiliated Medicaid managed care plan is one that is offered by the MA organization that offers the dual eligible MA special needs plan or is offered by an entity that shares a parent organization with such MA organization;

(B) The state has approved the use of the default enrollment process in the contract described in § 422.107 and provides the information that is necessary for the MA organization to identify individuals who are in their initial coverage election period;

(C) The MA organization offering the MA special needs plan has issued the notice described in paragraph (c)(2)(iv) of this section to the individual;

(D) Prior to the effective date described in paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section, the individual does not decline the default enrollment and does not elect to receive coverage other than through the MA organization;

(E) CMS has approved the MA organization to use default enrollment under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section;

(F) The MA organization has a minimum overall quality rating from the most recently issued ratings, under the rating system described in §§ 422.160 through 422.166, of at least 3 stars or is a low enrollment contract or new MA plan as defined in § 422.252; and

(G) The MA organization does not have any prohibition on new enrollment imposed by CMS.

(ii) CMS approval of default enrollment. An MA organization must obtain approval from CMS before implementing any default enrollment as described in this section. CMS approval will be for a period not to exceed five years, although CMS may suspend or rescind approval prior to the expiration of this period if CMS determines the MA organization is not in compliance with the requirements of this section.

(iii) Effective date of default enrollment. Default enrollment in the dual eligible MA special needs plan is effective the month in which the individual is first entitled to both Part A and Part B.

(iv) Notice requirement for default enrollments. In addition to the information described in § 422.111 and no fewer than 60 calendar days prior to the enrollment effective date described in paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section, the MA organization must provide to each individual who qualifies for deemed enrollment under paragraph (c)(2) of this section a notice that includes the following:

(A) Information on the differences in premium, benefits and cost sharing between the individual's current Medicaid managed care plan and the dual eligible MA special needs plan and the process for accessing care under the MA plan;

(B) The individual's ability to decline the enrollment, up to and including the day prior to the enrollment effective date, and either enroll in Original Medicare or choose another MA plan; and

(C) A general description of alternative Medicare health and drug coverage options available to an individual in his or her Initial Coverage Election Period.

(d) Conversion of enrollment (seamless continuation of coverage)— (1) Basic rule. An MA plan offered by an MA organization must accept any individual (regardless of whether the individual has end-stage renal disease) who requests enrollment during his or her Initial Coverage Election Period while enrolled in a health plan offered by the MA organization during the month immediately preceding the MA plan enrollment effective date, and who meets the eligibility requirements at § 422.50.

(2) Reserved vacancies. Subject to CMS's approval, an MA organization may set aside a reasonable number of vacancies in order to accommodate enrollment of conversions. Any set aside vacancies that are not filled within a reasonable time must be made available to other MA eligible individuals.

(3) Effective date of conversion. If an individual chooses to remain enrolled with the MA organization as an MA enrollee, the individual's conversion to an MA enrollee is effective the month in which he or she is entitled to both Part A and Part B in accordance with the requirements in paragraph (d)(5) of this section.

(4) Prohibition against disenrollment. The MA organization may disenroll an individual who is converting under the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section only under the conditions specified in § 422.74.

(5) Election. An individual who requests seamless continuation of coverage as described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section may complete a simplified election, in a form and manner approved by CMS that meets the requirements in § 422.60(c)(1).

(6) Submittal of information to CMS. The MA organization must transmit the information necessary for CMS to add the individual to its records as specified in § 422.60(e)(6).

(e) Maintenance of enrollment. (1) An individual who has made an election under this section is considered to have continued to have made that election until either of the following, which ever occurs first:

(i) The individual changes the election under this section.

(ii) The elected MA plan is discontinued or no longer serves the area in which the individual resides, as provided under § 422.74(b)(3), or the organization does not offer or the individual does not elect the option of continuing enrollment, as provided under § 422.54.

(2) An individual enrolled in an MA plan that becomes an MA-PD plan on January 1, 2006, will be deemed to have elected to enroll in that MA-PD plan.

(3) An individual enrolled in an MA plan that, as of December 31, 2005, offers any prescription drug coverage will be deemed to have elected an MA-PD plan offered by the same organization as of January 1, 2006.

(4) An individual who has elected an MA plan that does not provide prescription drug coverage will not be deemed to have elected an MA-PD plan and will remain enrolled in the MA plan as provided in paragraph (e)(1) of this section.

(5) An individual enrolled in an MA-PD plan as of December 31 of a year is deemed to have elected to remain enrolled in that plan on January 1 of the following year.

(f) Exception for employer group health plans. (1) In cases when an MA organization has both a Medicare contract and a contract with an employer group health plan, and in which the MA organization arranges for the employer to process election forms for Medicare-entitled group members who wish to disenroll from the Medicare contract, the effective date of the election may be retroactive. Consistent with § 422.308(f)(2), payment adjustments based on a retroactive effective date may be made for up to a 90-day period.

(2) Upon receipt of the election from the employer, the MA organization must submit a disenrollment notice to CMS within timeframes specified by CMS.

(a) Initial coverage election period. An election made during an initial coverage election period as described in § 422.62(a)(1) is effective as follows:

(1) If made prior to the month of entitlement to both Part A and Part B, it is effective as of the first day of the month of entitlement to both Part A and Part B.

(2) If made during or after the month of entitlement to both Part A and Part B, it is effective the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the election is made.

(b) Annual coordinated election periods. For an election or change of election made during the annual coordinated election period as described in § 422.62(a)(2)(i), coverage is effective as of the first day of the following calendar year except that for the annual coordinated election period described in § 422.62(a)(2)(ii), elections made after December 31, 2005 through May 15, 2006 are effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which the election is made.

(c) Open enrollment periods. For an election, or change in election, made during an open enrollment period, as described in § 422.62(a)(3) through (5), coverage is effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which the election is made.

(d) Special election periods. For an election or change of election made during a special election period as described in § 422.62(b), the coverage or change in coverage is effective the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the election is made, unless otherwise noted.

(e) Special election period for individual age 65. For an election of coverage under original Medicare made during a special election period for an individual age 65 as described in § 422.62(c), coverage is effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the month in which the election is made.

(f) Annual 45-day period for disenrollment from MA plans to Original Medicare. Through 2018, an election made from January 1 through February 14 to disenroll from an MA plan to Original Medicare, as described in § 422.62(a)(5), is effective the first day of the first month following the month in which the election is made.

(g) Beneficiary choice of effective date. If a beneficiary is eligible for more than one election period, resulting in more than one possible effective date, the MA organization must allow the beneficiary to choose the election period that results in the individual's desired effective date.

(1) To determine the beneficiary's choice of election period and effective date, the MA organization must attempt to contact the beneficiary and must document its attempts.

(2) If the MA organization is unable to obtain the beneficiary's desired enrollment effective date, the MA organization must assign an election period using the following ranking of election periods:

(i) ICEP/Part D IEP.

(ii) MA-OEP.

(iii) SEP.

(iv) AEP.

(v) OEPI.

(3) If the MA organization is unable to obtain the beneficiary's desired disenrollment effective date, the MA organization must assign an election period that results in the earliest disenrollment.

(a) General rule. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section, an MA organization may not—

(1) Disenroll an individual from any MA plan it offers; or

(2) Orally or in writing, or by any action or inaction, request or encourage an individual to disenroll.

(b) Basis for disenrollment—(1) Optional disenrollment. An MA organization may disenroll an individual from an MA plan it offers in any of the following circumstances:

(i) Any monthly basic and supplementary beneficiary premiums are not paid on a timely basis, subject to the grace period for late payment established under paragraph (d)(1) of this section.

(ii) The individual has engaged in disruptive behavior specified at paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

(iii) The individual provides fraudulent information on his or her election form or permits abuse of his or her enrollment card as specified in paragraph (d)(3) of this section.

(2) Required disenrollment. An MA organization must disenroll an individual from an MA plan it offers in any of the following circumstances:

(i) The individual no longer resides in the MA plan's service area as specified under paragraph (d)(4) of this section, is no longer eligible under § 422.50(a)(3)(ii), and optional continued enrollment has not been offered or elected under § 422.54.

(ii) The individual loses entitlement to Part A or Part B benefits as described in paragraph (d)(5) of this section.

(iii) Death of the individual as described in paragraph (d)(6) of this section.

(iv) Individuals enrolled in a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals that exclusively serves and enrolls special needs individuals who no longer meet the special needs status of that plan (or deemed continued eligibility, if applicable).

(v) The individual is not lawfully present in the United States.

(vi) The individual no longer meets the MA MSA's eligibility criteria specified under § 422.56 due to a mid-year change in eligibility.

(3) Plan termination or reduction of area where plan is available—(i) General rule. An MA organization that has its contract for an MA plan terminated, that terminates an MA plan, or that discontinues offering the plan in any portion of the area where the plan had previously been available, must disenroll affected enrollees in accordance with the procedures for disenrollment set forth at paragraph (d)(7) of this section, unless the exception in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section applies.

(ii) Exception. When an MA organization discontinues offering an MA plan in a portion of its service area, the MA organization may elect to offer enrollees residing in all or portions of the affected area the option to continue enrollment in an MA plan offered by the organization, provided that there is no other MA plan offered in the affected area at the time of the organization's election. The organization may require an enrollee who chooses to continue enrollment to agree to receive the full range of basic benefits (excluding emergency and urgently needed care) exclusively through facilities designated by the organization within the plan service area.

(c) Notice requirement. If the disenrollment is for any of the reasons specified in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2)(i), (b)(2)(vi), or (b)(3) of this section (that is, other than death or loss of entitlement to Part A or Part B) the MA organization must give the individual a written notice of the disenrollment with an explanation of why the MA organization is planning to disenroll the individual. Notices for reasons specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(2)(i) and (b)(2)(vi) of this section must—

(1) Be provided to the individual before submission of the disenrollment to CMS; and

(2) Include an explanation of the individual's right to submit a grievance under the MA organization's grievance procedures.

(d) Process for disenrollment. (1) Except as specified in paragraph (d)(1)(iv) of this section, an MA organization may disenroll an individual from the MA plan for failure to pay basic and supplementary premiums under the following circumstances:

(i) The MA organization can demonstrate to CMS that it made reasonable efforts to collect the unpaid premium amount, including:

(A) Alerting the individual that the premiums are delinquent;

(B) Providing the individual with a grace period, that is, an opportunity to pay past due premiums in full. The length of the grace period must—

(1) Be at least 2 whole calendar months; and

(2) Begin on the first day of the month for which the premium is unpaid or the first day of the month following the date on which premium payment is requested, whichever is later.

(C) Advising the individual that failure to pay the premiums by the end of the grace period will result in termination of MA coverage.

(ii) The MA organization provides the enrollee with notice of disenrollment that meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (c) of this section.

(iii) If the enrollee fails to pay the premium for optional supplemental benefits but pays the basic premium and any mandatory supplemental premium, the MA organization has the option to discontinue the optional supplemental benefits and retain the individual as an MA enrollee.

(iv) An MA organization may not disenroll an individual who had monthly premiums withheld per § 422.262(f)(1) and (g) of this part, or who is in premium withhold status, as defined by CMS.

(v) Extension of grace period for good cause and reinstatement. When an individual is disenrolled for failure to pay the plan premium, CMS (or a third party to which CMS has assigned this responsibility, such as an MA organization) may reinstate enrollment in the MA plan, without interruption of coverage, if the individual does all of the following:

(A) Submits a request for reinstatement for good cause within 60 calendar days of the disenrollment effective date;

(B) Has not previously requested reinstatement for good cause during the same 60-day period following the involuntary disenrollment;

(C) Shows good cause for failure to pay within the initial grace period;

(D) Pays all overdue premiums within 3 calendar months after the disenrollment date; and

(E) Establishes by a credible statement that failure to pay premiums within the initial grace period was due to circumstances for which the individual had no control, or which the individual could not reasonably have been expected to foresee.

(vi) No extension of grace period. A beneficiary's enrollment in the MA plan may not be reinstated if the only basis for such reinstatement is a change in the individual's circumstances subsequent to the involuntary disenrollment for non-payment of premiums.

(2) Disruptive behavior—(i) Definition of disruptive behavior. An MA plan enrollee is disruptive if his or her behavior substantially impairs the plan's ability to arrange for or provide services to the individual or other plan members. An individual cannot be considered disruptive if such behavior is related to the use of medical services or compliance (or noncompliance) with medical advice or treatment.

(ii) Basis of disenrollment for disruptive behavior. An organization may disenroll an individual whose behavior is disruptive as defined in 422.74(d)(2)(i) only after it meets the requirements described in this section and CMS has reviewed and approved the request.

(iii) Effort to resolve the problem. (A) The MA organization must—

(1) Make a serious effort to resolve the problems presented by the individual, including providing reasonable accommodations, as determined by CMS, for individuals with mental or cognitive conditions, including mental illness and developmental disabilities.

(2) Inform the individual of the right to use the organization's grievance procedures, through the notices described in paragraph (d)(2)(vii) of this section.

(B) The beneficiary has a right to submit any information or explanation that he or she may wish to the MA organization.

(iv) Documentation. The MA organization—

(A) Must document the enrollee's behavior, its own efforts to resolve any problems, as described in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section, and any extenuating circumstances.

(B) May request from CMS the ability to decline future enrollment by the individual.

(C) Must submit to CMS—

(1) The information specified in paragraph (d)(2)(iv)(A) of this section;

(2) Any documentation received by the beneficiary;

(3) Dated copies of the notices required in paragraph (d)(2)(vii) of this section.

(v) CMS review of the proposed disenrollment. CMS will review the information submitted by the MA organization and any information submitted by the beneficiary (which the MA organization must forward to CMS) to determine if the MA organization has fulfilled the requirements to request disenrollment for disruptive behavior. If the organization has fulfilled the necessary requirements, CMS will review the information and make a decision to approve or deny the request for disenrollment, including conditions on future enrollment, within 20 working days. During the review, CMS will ensure that staff with appropriate clinical or medical expertise review the case before making the final decision. The MA organization will be required to provide a reasonable accommodation, as determined by CMS, for the individual in such exceptional circumstances that CMS deems necessary. CMS will notify the MA organization within 5 working days after making its decision.

(vi) Effective date of disenrollment. If CMS permits an MA organization to disenroll an individual for disruptive behavior, the termination is effective the first day of the calendar month after the month in which the MA organization gives the individual notice of the disenrollment that meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (c) of this section, unless otherwise determined by CMS.

(vii) Required notices. The MA organization must provide the individual two notices prior to submitting the request for disenrollment to CMS.

(A) The first notice, the advance notice, informs the member that continued disruptive behavior could lead to involuntary disenrollment and provides the individual an opportunity to cease the behavior in order to avoid the disenrollment action.

(1) If the disruptive behavior ceases after the member receives the advance notice and then later resumes, the organization must begin the process again.

(2) The organization must wait at least 30 days after sending the advance notice before sending the second notice, during which 30-day period the individual has the opportunity to cease their behavior.

(B) The second notice, the notice of intent to request CMS permission to disenroll the member, notifies the member that the MA organization requests CMS permission to involuntarily disenroll the member.

(1) This notice must be provided prior to submission of the request to CMS.

(2) These notices are in addition to the disenrollment submission notice required under § 422.74(c).

(3) Individual commits fraud or permits abuse of enrollment card—(i) Basis for disenrollment. An MA organization may disenroll the individual from an MA plan if the individual—

(A) Knowingly provides, on the election form, fraudulent information that materially affects the individual's eligibility to enroll in the MA plan; or

(B) Intentionally permits others to use his or her enrollment card to obtain services under the MA plan.

(ii) Notice of disenrollment. The MA organization must give the individual a written notice of the disenrollment that meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (c) of this section.

(iii) Report to CMS. The MA organization must report to CMS any disenrollment based on fraud or abuse by the individual.

(4) Individual no longer resides in the MA plan's service area—(i) Basis for disenrollment. Unless continuation of enrollment is elected under § 422.54, the MA organization must disenroll an individual, and must document the basis for such action, if the MA organization establishes, on the basis of a written statement from the individual or other evidence acceptable to CMS, that the individual has permanently moved—

(A) Out of the MA plan's service area or is incarcerated as specified in paragraph (d)(4)(v) of this section.

(B) From the residence in which the individual resided at the time of enrollment in the MA plan to an area outside the MA plan's service area, for those individuals who enrolled in the MA plan under the eligibility requirements at § 422.50(a)(3)(ii) or (a)(4).

(ii) Special rule. If the individual has not moved from the MA plan's service area (or residence, as described in paragraph (d)(4)(i)(B) of this section), but has left the service area (or residence) for more than 6 months, the MA organization must disenroll the individual from the plan, unless the exception in paragraph (d)(4)(iii) of this section applies.

(A) The individual is considered to be temporarily absent from the plan service area when one or more of the required materials and content referenced in § 422.2267(e), if provided by mail, is returned to the MA organization by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable and a forwarding address is not provided.

(B) [Reserved]

(iii) Exception. If the MA plan offers a visitor/traveler benefit when the individual is out of the service area but within the United States (as defined in § 400.200 of this chapter) for a period of consecutive days longer than 6 months but less than 12 months, the MA organization may elect to offer to the individual the option of remaining enrolled in the MA plan if—

(A) The individual is disenrolled on the first day of the 13th month after the individual left the service area (or residence, if paragraph (d)(4)(i)(B) of this section applies);

(B) The individual understands and accepts any restrictions imposed by the MA plan on obtaining these services while absent from the MA plan's service area for the extended period, consistent with paragraph (d)(4)(i)(C) of the section;

(C) The MA organization makes this visitor/traveler option available to all Medicare enrollees who are absent for an extended period from the MA plan's service area. MA organizations may limit this visitor/traveler option to enrollees who travel to certain areas, as defined by the MA organization, and who receive services from qualified providers who directly provide, arrange for, or pay for health care; and

(D) The MA organization furnishes all Medicare Parts A and B services and all mandatory and optional supplemental benefits at the same cost sharing levels as apply within the plan's service area; and

(E) The MA organization furnishes the services in paragraph (d)(4)(iii)(D) of this section consistent with Medicare access and availability requirements at § 422.112 of this part.

(F) The individual is considered to be temporarily absent from the plan service area when one or more of the required materials and content referenced in § 422.2267(e), if provided by mail, is returned to the MA organization by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable and a forwarding address is not provided.

(iv) Notice of disenrollment. The MA organization must give the individual a written notice of the disenrollment that meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (c) of this section within 10 calendar days of the plan's confirmation of the individual's residence outside of the plan service area or within the first 10 calendar days of the sixth month of an individual's temporary absence from the plan service area or, for individuals using a visitor/traveler benefit, within the first 10 calendar days of the last month of the allowable absence. If the plan learns of an individual's temporary absence from the plan service area after the expiration of the allowable period, the plan must send this notice within 10 calendar days of the plan learning of the absence.

(v) Incarceration. (A) The MA organization must disenroll an individual if the MA organization establishes, on the basis of evidence acceptable to CMS, that the individual is incarcerated and does not reside in the service area of the MA plan as specified at § 422.2 or when notified of the incarceration by CMS as specified in paragraph (d)(4)(v)(B) of this section.

(B) Notification by CMS of incarceration. When CMS notifies the MA organization of the disenrollment due to the individual being incarcerated and not residing in the service area of the MA plan as per § 422.2, disenrollment is effective the first of the month following the start of incarceration, unless otherwise specified by CMS.

(5) Loss of entitlement to Part A or Part B benefits. If an individual is no longer entitled to Part A or Part B benefits, CMS notifies the MA organization that the disenrollment is effective the first day of the calendar month following the last month of entitlement to Part A or Part B benefits.

(6) Death of the individual. If the individual dies, disenrollment is effective the first day of the calendar month following the month of death.

(7) Plan termination or area reduction. (i) When an MA organization has its contract for an MA plan terminated, terminates an MA plan, or discontinues offering the plan in any portion of the area where the plan had previously been available, the MA organization must give each affected MA plan enrollee a written notice of the effective date of the plan termination or area reduction and a description of alternatives for obtaining benefits under the MA program.

(ii) The notice must be sent before the effective date of the plan termination or area reduction, and in the timeframes specified in § 422.506(a)(2).

(8) Loss of special needs status. If an enrollee loses special needs status and must be disenrolled under paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section, the SNP must provide the enrollee with a minimum of 30 days' advance notice of disenrollment, regardless of the date of loss of special needs status.

(i) The advance notice must be provided to the enrollee within 10 calendar days of the plan learning of the loss of special needs status and must afford the enrollee an opportunity to prove that they are still eligible to remain in the plan.

(ii) The advance notice must include all of the following:

(A) The disenrollment effective date.

(B) A description of eligibility for the SEP described in § 422.62(b)(11).

(C) If applicable all of the following:

(1) Information regarding the period of deemed continued eligibility authorized by § 422.52(d).

(2) The duration of the period of deemed continued eligibility.

(3) The consequences of not regaining special needs status within the period of deemed continued eligibility.

(iii) A final notice of involuntary disenrollment must be sent as follows:

(A) Within 3 business days following the disenrollment effective date, which is either—

(1) The last day of the period of deemed continued eligibility, if applicable; or

(2) A minimum of 30 days after providing the advance notice of disenrollment.

(B) Before submission of the disenrollment to CMS.

(iv) The final notice of involuntary disenrollment must include an explanation of the enrollee's right to file a grievance under the MA organization's grievance procedures that are required by § 422.564.

(9) Enrollee is not lawfully present in the United States. Disenrollment is effective the first day of the month following notice by CMS that the individual is ineligible in accordance with § 417.422(h) of this chapter.

(10) Mid-year change in MSA eligibility. If an individual is no longer eligible for an MA MSA plan due to a mid-year change in eligibility, disenrollment is effective the first day of the calendar month following the MA organization's notice to the individual that they are ineligible in accordance with § 422.74(b)(2)(vi) of this section.

(e) Consequences of disenrollment—(1) Disenrollment for non-payment of premiums, disruptive behavior, fraud or abuse, loss of Part A or Part B or mid-year loss of MSA eligibility. An individual who is disenrolled under paragraph (b)(1)(i) through (iii), (b)(2)(ii) or (b)(2)(vi) of this section is deemed to have elected original Medicare.

(2) Disenrollment based on plan termination, area reduction, or individual moves out of area. (i) An individual who is disenrolled under paragraph (b)(2)(i) or (b)(3) of this section has a special election period in which to make a new election as provided in § 422.62(b)(1) and (b)(2).

(ii) An individual who fails to make an election during the special election period is deemed to have elected original Medicare.