Changing Medicare Plans 🔁

Original, Advantage, Drug

Advantage to Original

During the Medicare annual enrollment period from October 15 to December 7 you can change from a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) to Original Medicare. There is also a specific Medicare Advantage enrollment period from January 1 to March 31 in which you can return to Original Medicare. Changes during both enrollment periods start the following year.¹

In addition, if you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period at 65, you can go back to Original Medicare within the first 3 months you have Medicare.¹

It may be difficult to get supplemental Medigap coverage if you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage and later decide to switch to traditional Medicare. Insurers cannot deny you Medigap insurance by law when you initially enroll in Medicare at age 65, and must renew annually as long as you pay the premiums. But outside of that initial enrollment period insurers in many states can deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on health or pre-existing conditions.²

Original to Advantage

During the Medicare annual enrollment period from October 15 to December 7 you can change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) for the following year.¹

One Advantage to Another

During the Medicare annual enrollment period from October 15 to December 7 you can change from one Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) to another. There is also a specific Medicare Advantage enrollment period from January 1 to March 31 in which you can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan. Changes during both enrollment periods start the following year.¹

In addition, if you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period at 65, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan within the first 3 months you have Medicare.¹

One Drug Plan to Another

During the Medicare annual enrollment period from October 15 to December 7 you can change from one Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) to another for the following year.¹

If you have a Part D Prescription Drug Plan, reviewing the available plans and costs on MyMedicare.gov is recommended annually, because the plans change that often. You can enter or edit a prescription drug list, sort the plans by total annual cost, and change plans by selecting a new one. You are automatically disenrolled from the old plan; you do not need to contact either the new or old insurers directly.

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Footnotes

¹ Joining a health or drug plan, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
² Unhappy With Your Medicare Advantage Plan? It’s Not Too Late to Switch, Mary C. Hickey and Donna Rosato, Consumer Reports, March 28, 2019.