Last week (review HERE) I wrote that, although the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) had ended, there’s a “General Election Period” (GEP; January 1 thru March 31) during which procrastinators are able make changes to their Medicare Advantage Plans.

Now let’s transition to the Individual Marketplace (Obamacare) Open Enrollment Period (OEP).

Based on the number of frantic calls we got Friday, yesterday, and even today, many of you are under the impression the OEP just ended.

“Patience, young grasshopper!”

The renewal packet from your insurer (it arrived weeks ago) stated, among other things, if you did nothing, your coverage would automatically renew, albeit possibly with a small change in premium or plan design.

And if now – finally – you want to look at changing plans, you can do so up until January 15^th for a February 1 effective date. A ‘Quick Guide’ to those Healthcare.gov rules is HERE.

I don’t know why I find procrastinators so annoying. It’s not like my tax returns are filed on April 15^th. Then there’s the biennial insurance license Continuing Education requirement, due the month when I was born (June). Every other May really sucks!

(Don’t put off shopping. It’s the 24^th.)