Which of the following statements about the 5-Star Special Election Period (SEP) is true?

• A. It can be used once, from December 8 of the current year through November 30 of the next year, to enroll in a 5-star plan; coverage will start the first of the month following receipt of the enrollment application.
• B. It can be used any time during the year and coverage starts immediately.
• C. It can be used only for certain plans and coverage starts the next calendar year.
• D. It can be used twice per year to enroll in a 5-star plan, with coverage starting the following month.

Answer: (A)

Understanding how the 5-Star Special Election Period works: you can enroll in a 5-star Medicare Advantage or Part D plan only during a defined window, from December 8 of the current year through November 30 of the next year. This single-use period is specifically for moving to a plan with a 5-star rating, rather than being available year-round. Coverage doesn’t start immediately on submission; it starts the first day of the month after the plan receives your enrollment application, which aligns with how most plan enrollments are processed.

That’s why this option is correct: it matches the exact timing window and the rule about when coverage starts. The other statements don’t fit because the 5-Star SEP isn’t year-round, it doesn’t start coverage immediately upon submission, and it isn’t described as a twice-per-year event.