Medicare automatically renews each year — you do not have to do anything unless you want to make changes
Your Medicare coverage continues without interruption from year to year. You will not lose coverage on December 31st and have to reapply on January 1st. However, the annual enrollment period (October 15 through December 7) is when you can switch plans, add coverage, or drop coverage if your needs have changed. If you do nothing during that window, your current plan straightforward rolls forward into the next calendar year.
The confusion often comes from the difference between your coverage staying active and your ability to change it. Your Part A and Part B coverage is permanent once you have it — those do not expire. Your Part D prescription drug plan and any Medicare Advantage plan you have chosen will renew automatically, but only if you want them to. If you want different coverage, you must act during the enrollment period.
Key Takeaways
- Your Medicare coverage renews automatically each January 1st with no action required on your part.
- The annual enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, and this is your only chance to switch plans or change coverage.
- If you miss the enrollment period and want to change plans, you will have to wait until the next October unless you have a may have access to life event.
- Your plan renewal notice arrives in the mail in September or October and shows your coverage for the coming year.
- Part A and Part B coverage never expire once you have them, but Part D and Medicare Advantage plans renew annually.
What happens automatically when your plan renews
When your Medicare plan renews on January 1st, your coverage picks up exactly where it left off. Your plan identification number stays the same, your network of doctors and hospitals remains the same (unless your plan changes its network), and your out-of-pocket costs for the new year are set by your plan's rates. You will receive a new insurance card in the mail before January 1st showing your coverage for the new year.
Your pharmacy network may change slightly from year to year, even if you keep the same plan. Pharmacies sometimes leave networks or new ones join. Your plan will mail you a pharmacy directory for the new year, or you can check your plan's website. If your regular pharmacy is no longer in network, you have a short window to request an exception or switch to a different plan.
When you must act during the enrollment period
The annual enrollment period is October 15 through December 7. This is the only time most people can make changes to their Medicare coverage. You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare with a Medigap or Part D plan, add or drop Part D coverage, or change your Medigap plan.
Changes you make during this period take effect on January 1st of the following year. You can make changes online through Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or by mail. If you are working with a broker or agent, they can help you compare plans and submit your choices, though the decision is always yours to make.
What your renewal notice tells you
In September or October, your insurance company will mail you a renewal notice. This document shows your plan for the coming year, any changes to your monthly premium, your deductible, and your out-of-pocket maximum. Read it carefully, because sometimes plans change their drug formularies (the list of covered medications) or their provider networks.
If your renewal notice shows that a medication you take is no longer covered, or that your doctor is no longer in network, contact your plan when ready. You may be able to request an exception, or you may want to switch plans during the enrollment period. Do not wait until January to discover a problem — the enrollment period is your chance to fix it.
What happens if you miss the enrollment period
If you do nothing during the enrollment period and want to change your plan, you will have to wait until the next October 15th. The only exception is if you have a may have access to life event: you move out of your plan's service area, you lose other health coverage, you become newly may be able to access for Medicaid, you are released from prison, or your plan leaves the Medicare market. These events give you a 60-day window to make changes outside the annual enrollment period.
If your plan leaves the Medicare market, Medicare will automatically move you to a different plan and notify you by mail. You will have the chance to switch to a different plan during a special enrollment period if you do not like the plan Medicare chose for you.
How to prepare for renewal season
Start in September by reviewing your current plan's costs and coverage. Make a list of the medications you take and check whether they are still covered under your plan's formulary for the coming year. Confirm that your doctors and hospitals are still in your plan's network. If anything has changed in a way that matters to you, use the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov to compare other plans available in your area.
The Plan Finder tool lets you enter your medications, doctors, and hospitals and shows you which plans cover them and what your costs would be. You can compare plans side by side and see the total estimated cost for the year, not just the monthly premium. This takes 15 to 20 minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars if you find a plan that better matches your needs.
Special situations that affect renewal
If you are turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare for the first time, your initial enrollment period is different from the annual enrollment period. You have a seven-month window centered on your birthday month to enroll without penalty. After that, you follow the annual enrollment period like everyone else.
If you are on Medicaid as well as Medicare (called "dual may be able to access"), some states have special enrollment rules. Your state Medicaid program may have its own enrollment important date that differ from Medicare's. Contact your state Medicaid office or your local Area Agency on Aging to understand your state's rules.
If you are still working and covered by an employer health plan, you may be able to delay enrolling in Part B without penalty. When you do enroll, you will follow the standard annual enrollment period. Talk to your employer's benefits office about how your coverage coordinates with Medicare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to keep my plan exactly as it is?
Do nothing. Your plan will renew automatically on January 1st. You will receive a new insurance card and your coverage will continue. You only need to act if something about your plan is changing or if your health needs have changed.
Can I change my plan more than once during the enrollment period?
Yes. You can make multiple changes during October 15 through December 7, and your last choice is the one that takes effect on January 1st. However, once January 1st arrives, you cannot change again until the next enrollment period unless you have a may have access to life event.
What if my doctor leaves my plan's network after I renew?
If your doctor leaves the network after your plan renews, you can request a continuity of care exception from your plan, which may allow you to keep seeing that doctor for a limited time. You can also switch plans during the next annual enrollment period. Contact your plan when ready if this happens.
Do I have to renew my Medigap plan every year?
No. Medigap plans renew automatically and do not have an annual enrollment period like Medicare Advantage or Part D plans do. However, you can switch Medigap plans during the annual Medicare enrollment period if you want to, though you may face medical underwriting depending on your state and situation.
What if I turn 65 during the year — do I follow the annual enrollment period?
No. When you first turn 65, you have your own seven-month initial enrollment period centered on your birthday month. After that first year, you follow the standard annual enrollment period like all other Medicare beneficiaries.