Yes, but the process depends on which type of Medicare you have

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not require annual renewal once you are enrolled — your coverage continues automatically year to year. Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, however, must be actively renewed or changed every year during the annual enrollment period, or your coverage will end on December 31.

The key difference is that Original Medicare is a government program that stays in place unless you cancel it or lose may be able to access. Private plans sold through Medicare — Advantage and Part D — operate on annual contracts that expire and must be renewed. If you do nothing during the enrollment window, a private plan straightforward stops covering you on January 1.

Even if you have Original Medicare and do not need to renew, you may still want to review your coverage each year. Costs, covered services, and your own health needs change. Understanding what happens automatically and what requires your action prevents gaps in coverage.

Key Takeaways

  • Original Medicare (Parts A and B) renews automatically each year with no action needed from you.
  • Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans expire on December 31 each year and must be renewed or changed during the annual enrollment period (October 15 to December 7).
  • If you have a private Medicare plan and take no action during enrollment, your coverage ends and you will have no drug or Advantage coverage starting January 1.
  • You can change plans, switch to Original Medicare, or keep your current plan during the annual enrollment period.
  • Even with automatic Original Medicare renewal, reviewing your coverage annually helps you catch changes in costs and covered services.

How Original Medicare renewal works automatically

If you are enrolled in Original Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), your coverage renews without any paperwork or action on your part. Medicare sends you a new card each year, usually in the mail before January 1, but the coverage itself straightforward continues. You pay your Part B premium each month (either through Social Security or directly to Medicare), and that payment keeps your coverage active.

The only way Original Medicare stops is if you request it, if you become ineligible (for example, if you move out of the country permanently), or if you fail to pay your premiums. Even then, Medicare typically gives you a grace period to pay overdue premiums before coverage ends. You do not have to "renew" or "re-enroll" in the way you do with private plans.

This automatic renewal means you could theoretically ignore Medicare entirely after your initial enrollment and your coverage would continue. However, this is not a good strategy — your costs, covered services, and available options change each year, and staying informed protects you from unexpected bills.

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans expire and must be renewed each year

Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) and standalone Part D prescription drug plans are private insurance products sold under the Medicare program. Unlike Original Medicare, these plans operate on annual contracts. Every December 31, your current plan's contract ends. If you want coverage to continue on January 1, you must take action during the annual enrollment period.

The annual enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this window, you can renew your current plan, switch to a different plan, or drop your private plan and switch to Original Medicare. If you do nothing by December 7, your plan terminates on December 31, and you will have no coverage starting January 1 — no drug coverage, no Advantage coverage, nothing.

This is different from Original Medicare, where inaction means you keep your coverage. With private plans, inaction means you lose coverage. The stakes are high enough that Medicare sends notices and reminders, but ultimately the responsibility to act falls on you.

The annual enrollment period: when and how to renew or change plans

The annual enrollment period for Medicare runs October 15 through December 7 each year. This is your window to renew your current Advantage or Part D plan, switch to a different plan, or make changes to your coverage. You can act online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or in person at a local Social Security office or senior center.

If you want to keep your current plan, you can renew it during this period or straightforward let it renew automatically if your plan offers automatic renewal. However, you should still review your plan's costs and coverage for the coming year — premiums, deductibles, and covered drugs change annually. Medicare mails you a notice called the "Annual Notice of Change" that lists what is changing in your plan for the next year. Read this notice carefully.

If you want to switch plans, you have until December 7 to make the change. The new plan's coverage begins January 1. If you miss the December 7 important date, you are locked into your current plan (or no plan, if you did not renew) until the next annual enrollment period in October, unless you may have access to for a special enrollment period due to a life event like moving, losing other coverage, or a change in income.

What happens if you miss the renewal important date

If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan and do not renew or make a change by December 7, your coverage ends on December 31. Starting January 1, you will have no Advantage coverage and no Part D drug coverage. If you also have Original Medicare Part A and B, those continue automatically, but you will be without drug coverage and any extra benefits your Advantage plan provided.

If you realize you missed the important date after December 7, you have limited options. You can wait until the next annual enrollment period in October to enroll in a new plan, but you will go without coverage in the meantime. Alternatively, you may may have access to for a special enrollment period if you have a may have access to life event — moving to a new state, losing other health coverage, getting married or divorced, or a significant change in income. You will need to provide documentation of the life event.

Some people in this situation choose to enroll in Original Medicare Part D (a standalone drug plan) if they do not already have it, though this also requires acting during the enrollment period or having a may have access to event. The safest approach is to mark your calendar for October 15 and review your options well before the December 7 important date.

Reviewing your coverage each year, even if renewal is automatic

Even if you have Original Medicare and your coverage renews automatically, you should review your situation annually. Your health needs change, new treatments and drugs become available, and Medicare's covered services and costs shift. Spending 30 minutes each fall reviewing your coverage can catch problems before they become expensive.

For Original Medicare, check whether you need to add a Part D drug plan or a Medigap supplemental policy. If you already have Part D or Medigap, review whether your current plan still fits your prescriptions and healthcare needs. Medigap plans also have an annual enrollment period (though it is less strict than Medicare Advantage), and switching plans can save money if your health or costs have changed.

For Medicare Advantage and Part D, the annual review is essential. Compare your current plan's premiums, deductibles, copays, and covered drugs against other available plans. A plan that was the cheapest option last year may not be this year. Medicare's Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov lets you compare plans side by side and see how your current prescriptions are covered under different options.

How to renew or change your plan

You have three main ways to renew or change your Medicare plan during the annual enrollment period:

  1. Online at Medicare.gov: Go to the Medicare Plan Finder, enter your information, and compare plans. You can enroll in a new plan or renew your current one directly through the website. This is usually the fastest method.
  2. By phone: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). A representative can walk you through your options, answer questions, and help you enroll. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Wait times can be long during October and November, so calling in September or early October may be faster.
  3. In person: Visit your local Social Security office, a senior center, or a State Health Insurance information Program (SHIP) office. SHIP offers free, unbiased counseling about Medicare options. Find your local SHIP at shiptacenter.org or by calling 1-877-839-2675.

Whichever method you choose, have your current Medicare card and a list of your medications handy. If you are comparing plans, knowing your prescriptions helps you see which plans cover them and at what cost.

Special situations: when you can change plans outside the annual enrollment period

Normally you can only change Medicare plans during the annual enrollment period. However, certain life events may have access to you for a special enrollment period, which lets you change plans at other times of year. These events include:

  • Moving to a new state or county (you may have different plans available in your new location).
  • Losing other health coverage (employer coverage, Medicaid, TRICARE, or VA benefits).
  • Getting married, divorced, or legally separated.
  • A significant change in income (usually a decrease).
  • Becoming may be able to access for Medicaid or losing Medicaid may be able to access.
  • Institutional status changes (entering or leaving a nursing home, hospital, or correctional facility).

If a may have access to event happens, you typically have 60 days from the event to make a plan change. You will need to provide proof of the event — a lease or utility bill for a move, a termination letter for lost coverage, a marriage certificate, or tax documents for income changes. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to report the event and explore your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to renew my Original Medicare every year?

No. Original Medicare Part A and Part B renew automatically each year. You do not need to take any action. Your coverage continues as long as you pay your Part B premium and remain may be able to access.

What happens if I forget to renew my Medicare Advantage plan?

Your plan ends on December 31, and you will have no Advantage coverage starting January 1. If you also have Original Medicare, that continues, but you will lose any extra benefits your Advantage plan provided. You can enroll in a new plan during the next annual enrollment period (October 15 to December 7) or if you have a may have access to life event.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare during the annual enrollment period?

Yes. During the annual enrollment period (October 15 to December 7), you can drop your Advantage plan and switch to Original Medicare. Your Original Medicare coverage begins January 1. If you want Part D drug coverage, you can enroll in a standalone Part D plan at the same time.

When should I review my Medicare coverage?

Review your coverage each fall, ideally in September or early October, before the annual enrollment period begins on October 15. This gives you time to compare options and make changes by the December 7 important date. Check whether your current plan still covers your medications and doctors, and whether premiums or out-of-pocket costs have changed.

What if I turn 65 and enroll 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 65th birthday to enroll in Original Medicare and Part D. After that, you follow the annual enrollment period rules like everyone else. If you enroll in Medicare Advantage, it also renews annually during the October 15 to December 7 window.