Do You Have to Renew Your Medicare Coverage Every Year?

Most Medicare coverage renews automatically, but you must act during Open Enrollment to change plans or avoid losing coverage

Your Medicare coverage does not straightforward renew on its own. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) continues year to year without action on your part — but if you have a Medicare Advantage plan or prescription drug coverage, you must review your coverage each fall and decide whether to keep it or switch. If you do nothing during the Open Enrollment period, your current plan renews automatically, which may leave you with higher costs or coverage gaps if your plan changed.

The timing matters. Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes take effect January 1. If you miss this window, you cannot switch plans until the next October — with rare exceptions for life events like moving, losing employer coverage, or a death in your household.

Key Takeaways

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) renews automatically each year with no action required from you.
Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans renew automatically in January, but you can change plans only during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7).
Your plan's costs, coverage, and network of doctors can change each year, so reviewing your options during Open Enrollment protects you from unexpected bills.
Missing Open Enrollment locks you into your current plan for the full year unless you experience a may have access to life event.

How Original Medicare Renews

If you have Original Medicare — the government-run Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) coverage — your enrollment continues automatically. You pay your Part B premium each month (deducted from Social Security or billed directly), and your coverage stays active. There is no renewal form, no important date, and no risk of losing coverage as long as you pay your premium.

Original Medicare does not change its rules or coverage year to year the way private plans do. Your deductibles, copays, and coinsurance amounts may adjust for inflation, but you will receive a notice in the mail explaining any changes before January 1. You do not need to do anything to keep Original Medicare active.

Medicare Advantage Plans Renew Automatically but Can Change

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are run by private insurers and renew automatically on January 1 each year. However, the plan you had in December may not be the same plan in January. Insurers can change their networks, add or remove doctors, raise copays, or even stop offering a plan in your area.

During Open Enrollment, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, return to Original Medicare, or add or drop prescription drug coverage. If you do nothing, your current plan renews as-is. If your plan is being discontinued, Medicare will notify you by September 30 and give you a special enrollment period to switch without penalty.

The risk of not reviewing your plan: a doctor you see regularly may no longer be in-network, your copay for a medication you take daily may double, or your plan's service area may shrink. Spending an hour reviewing your options during Open Enrollment can save hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.

Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Requires Annual Review

Part D (prescription drug coverage) renews automatically on January 1, but formularies — the list of drugs each plan covers — change every year. A medication your plan covered last year may move to a higher cost tier, require prior authorization, or be removed entirely. Generic alternatives may be added, or your copay for a brand-name drug may increase.

If you take regular medications, compare your current plan against others during Open Enrollment. The plan with the lowest premium in October may not be the cheapest for your specific drugs in January. Medicare's Plan Finder tool lets you enter your medications and see which plans cover them at the lowest cost.

You can also switch Part D plans even if you keep the same Medicare Advantage plan. Some people stay with their Advantage plan but move to a different drug plan if their medications are covered better elsewhere.

When You Must Act During Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year. During this window, you can:

Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
Add Part D prescription drug coverage if you do not have it
Switch to a different Part D plan
Drop Part D coverage (though this can trigger a penalty if you go without it later)

You can make changes online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or in person at a local Social Security office. Changes submitted by December 7 take effect January 1.

What Happens If You Miss Open Enrollment

If you do not make changes during Open Enrollment, your current coverage renews automatically on January 1. You cannot switch plans again until the next October 15, with limited exceptions.

You may may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you experience certain life events: you move out of your plan's service area, you lose employer coverage, a family member dies, you get married or divorced, or you become may be able to access for Medicaid. You have 60 days from the event to make changes. Other situations — such as a change in your health or a doctor leaving your network — do not may have access to for an SEP.

If you realize in February that your plan no longer covers a medication you need, or your doctor is no longer in-network, you are generally stuck until October. The exception is if you can document a may have access to life event that occurred within 60 days of your discovery.

How to Prepare for Open Enrollment

Start reviewing your coverage in September, before Open Enrollment begins. Gather your current insurance card, a list of your medications and their dosages, and a list of doctors you see regularly. Check whether each doctor is in-network for your current plan and any plans you are considering.

Use Medicare.gov's Plan Finder to compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans side by side. Enter your zip code, your medications, and your preferred doctors. The tool shows you estimated out-of-pocket costs for each plan based on your actual prescriptions and care patterns.

If you need help, contact your State Health Insurance information Program (SHIP). SHIP counselors offer free, unbiased guidance and can walk you through your options over the phone or in person. Find your state's SHIP at shiptalk.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to do anything to keep my Original Medicare coverage?

No. Original Medicare renews automatically as long as you pay your Part B premium each month. There is no enrollment period, no renewal form, and no risk of losing coverage. Your premium is usually deducted from your Social Security check automatically.

What happens if I do not review my Medicare Advantage plan during Open Enrollment?

Your plan renews automatically on January 1 with the same coverage, costs, and network. If your plan changed its copays, removed doctors from its network, or discontinued coverage for a medication you take, you will not be able to switch until the next October unless you may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period.

Can I change my Part D plan without changing my Medicare Advantage plan?

Yes. You can keep your Medicare Advantage plan and switch to a different Part D prescription drug plan during Open Enrollment. This is useful if your current plan's formulary no longer covers your medications well, but you are satisfied with your Advantage plan's doctors and copays.

What if my Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued?

Medicare requires insurers to notify you by September 30 if your plan is ending. You will receive a letter explaining your options and giving you a Special Enrollment Period to switch to a different plan without waiting until October. You have until December 31 to make the change.

Is there a penalty if I do not have Part D coverage?
If you go without Part D coverage for 63 days or more in a row, you may owe a late enrollment penalty when you eventually enroll. The penalty is calculated based on how long you went without coverage and is added to your Part D premium permanently. Staying enrolled in Part D, even if you do not use it, avoids this penalty.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.