How to switch your Medicare Advantage plan

If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage plan, or go back to Original Medicare within the first 3 months you have Medicare. 

If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan, there are two opportunities each year to make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan.  

 

Changing your Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period

During the Medicare Advantage Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7, you can: 

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan from your current one 
• Disenroll from any coverage and go back to Original Medicare Parts A & B  
• Switch your Prescription Drug plan to a different Prescription Drug plan 
• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan   
• Enroll in a Prescription Drug plan  

 

Changing your Medicare Advantage plan during the Open Enrollment Period 

During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, you can: 

• Make a one-time switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan from your current one 
• Disenroll from your current Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare Parts A&B 

 

Changing your Medicare Advantage plan outside of eligible periods 

If you want to change your Medicare Advantage plan outside of the standard enrollment periods, you’ll have to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. These are triggered by certain life events, and the timing and options depend on your specific situation. The timing and options depend on your specific situation.

Here are some examples of qualifying events that may let you change your Medicare Advantage plan:

You moved 

•  If you move to a new address outside your plan’s coverage area, you have a full 2 months after your move to find a new Medicare Advantage plan. If you tell your plan before you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month before the month you move and continues for 2 full months after you move.
• If you move to a new address within your current plan’s coverage but you now have new plan options available to you, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans up to 2 months after your move.  If you tell your plan before you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month before the month you move and continues for 2 full months after you move.
• If you return to the United States after living abroad, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan up to 2 months after you move back to the U.S. 

You lost your current coverage 

• If you lose Medicaid coverage, you have a full 3 months to switch or join a Medicare Advantage plan from either the date you're no longer eligible or the date you're notified you're no longer eligible, whichever is later.
• If you left employer-sponsored coverage (including COBRA), you have a full 2 months to join a Medicare Advantage plan after the month your coverage ends. 
• If you leave your Medicare Cost Plan and lose drug coverage, you have 2 months after the month your coverage ends to join a Medicare prescription drug plan. 

Other special events that qualify you for switching your coverage 

• If the state takes over your plan for financial reasons, you can join a new Medicare Advantage plan the month the state action is effective and lasting until the state action is no longer in effect, or until you join another plan, whichever occurs first.  
• If your plan ends its contract with Medicare, your chance to switch starts 1 month before the plan's contract with Medicare ends and ends 2 full months after the contract ends.  
• If your plan doesn’t renew their contract with Medicare, you’ll have from December 8 to February 28 to enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan. If you don’t join a new Medicare Advantage plan before your plan ends, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B). 

If you want to know more about special qualifying events, or you have questions about your eligibility to switch plans, speak to a licensed sales agent or visit Medicare.gov.