To maintain Medicare coverage, what action is necessary by beneficiaries?

To maintain Medicare coverage, beneficiaries need to enroll during specific periods, such as the Initial Enrollment Period, General Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Periods. These defined time frames are crucial for ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to sign up for or make changes to their Medicare plans, particularly when they first become eligible or if they experience qualifying life events. If beneficiaries fail to enroll during these designated periods, they may face penalties or gaps in their coverage, impacting their access to necessary healthcare services.

The other options, while related to healthcare and insurance in various ways, do not pertain directly to maintaining Medicare coverage. Keeping a job with personal insurance does not influence one's Medicare status directly; reapplying every year is not a requirement for Medicare, as eligibility is typically based on age or disability status rather than reapplication; and utilizing secondary insurance is an option but not a requirement for maintaining Medicare coverage.