When and how you can change Medicare plans

You can change Medicare plans during Open Enrollment for Medicare, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. During this window, you can switch Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, switch between Medicare Advantage plans, add or drop prescription drug coverage, or move to a Medigap policy. Changes you make take effect January 1 of the following year.

Outside of Open Enrollment, you can change plans only if you have a may have access to life event — such as losing employer coverage, moving to a new state, getting married, or having a significant drop in income. You then have 60 days from the event to make changes. If you miss the annual window and have no may have access to event, you are locked into your current plan until the next October.

The process itself is straightforward: you contact your new plan directly, provide your Medicare number and basic information, and they handle the paperwork. Your old plan is notified automatically. You do not need to call Medicare itself to switch.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 each year, and any changes you make take effect January 1.
  • You can switch plans outside Open Enrollment only if you have a may have access to life event such as moving, losing coverage, or a major income change, and you have 60 days to act.
  • Contact your new plan directly to switch — you do not need to call Medicare, and your old plan is notified automatically.
  • Review your current plan's costs and coverage each year, because premiums, deductibles, and drug formularies change annually.

What to review before switching plans

Before you switch, compare what you actually pay under your current plan versus what you would pay under a new one. Look at your total out-of-pocket costs for the year, not just the premium. A plan with a lower monthly premium may have higher deductibles or copays that cost you more overall if you see doctors frequently or take multiple medications.

Check whether your doctors and specialists are in the new plan's network. If you use Original Medicare, you can see any doctor who accepts Medicare anywhere in the country. If you switch to a Medicare Advantage plan, you are usually limited to in-network providers, and some plans require referrals. Call your doctor's office to confirm they accept the plan you are considering.

If you take prescription drugs, compare the formularies — the list of covered medications — between plans. A drug you take may be covered under your current plan but not the new one, or it may require prior authorization or a higher copay. Use the Medicare Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov to see which plans cover your specific medications.

How to use Medicare Plan Finder

The Medicare Plan Finder is a free tool on Medicare.gov that shows you all plans available in your area, their costs, and their coverage. Go to Medicare.gov, click "Find Care Providers & Compare Plans," and select "Compare Health and Drug Plans." Enter your ZIP code, and the tool will display all Original Medicare options, Medicare Advantage plans, and standalone prescription drug plans available to you.

Enter your current medications, and the tool will show you which plans cover each one and at what cost. You can also enter your doctors' names, and it will tell you which plans include them in their network. The tool shows the plan's premium, deductible, copays, and coinsurance amounts so you can calculate your likely costs for the year.

Save or print the comparison for plans you are seriously considering. Many people compare three to five plans before deciding. The tool is updated each year before Open Enrollment begins, so use the current year's version — older comparisons may not reflect this year's changes.

Switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage

If you currently have Original Medicare and want to switch to a Medicare Advantage plan, contact the plan directly during Open Enrollment. You will need your Medicare number, which is on your Medicare card. The plan will ask for basic information — your date of birth, address, and current coverage — and will send you an enrollment form to sign and return.

Once you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, your Original Medicare coverage ends on December 31, and the new plan begins January 1. You do not need to notify Original Medicare separately. However, if you have a standalone prescription drug plan (Part D), you should drop it when you enroll in Medicare Advantage, because Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage. Keeping both will result in a late enrollment penalty on your drug coverage.

If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and later decide it is not right for you, you have until January 31 to switch back to Original Medicare or to a different Medicare Advantage plan. This is called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, and it applies only to people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage on January 1.

Switching from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and want to return to Original Medicare, you can do so during the annual Open Enrollment period (October 15 to December 7). You do not enroll in Original Medicare directly — it is your default coverage. Instead, you straightforward drop your Medicare Advantage plan, and Original Medicare automatically resumes on January 1.

When you switch back to Original Medicare, you may want to enroll in a Medigap policy to cover costs that Original Medicare does not pay, such as copays and coinsurance. You can also enroll in a standalone prescription drug plan (Part D) at the same time. If you enroll in Medigap within 63 days of dropping Medicare Advantage, you have may provide issue rights, meaning the Medigap insurer cannot deny you or charge you more based on your health history.

If you miss the 63-day window, you may face medical underwriting, which means the insurer can review your health and charge you higher premiums or deny coverage. For this reason, if you know you want Medigap, enroll in it at the same time you drop Medicare Advantage.

Changing prescription drug plans

If you have Original Medicare and a standalone prescription drug plan (Part D), you can switch to a different drug plan during Open Enrollment. Drug plans change their formularies and costs every year, so a plan that was affordable last year may become expensive this year. Review your current plan's costs and coverage each fall, and compare it to other plans available in your area.

Use the Medicare Plan Finder to see which plans cover your medications at the lowest cost. When you find a plan you want, contact that plan directly to enroll. Your current drug plan will be notified and will end on December 31. The new plan begins January 1.

If you drop your drug plan and do not enroll in another one, you may face a late enrollment penalty — a permanent increase to your premium — if you enroll later. The penalty is calculated based on how many months you went without coverage. To avoid this, enroll in a drug plan before the end of Open Enrollment, even if you do not currently take prescription medications.

What to do if you miss Open Enrollment

If you miss the October 15 to December 7 window and do not have a may have access to life event, you cannot change plans until the next Open Enrollment period. However, certain situations allow you to change plans outside the annual window. These include moving to a new state, losing employer coverage, getting married or divorced, having a baby, or experiencing a significant drop in income.

If you have a may have access to event, you have 60 days from the date of the event to make changes. You will need to provide proof of the event — such as a lease showing your new address, a notice from your employer, or a marriage certificate. Contact your new plan and tell them about your may have access to event. They will ask for documentation and will guide you through the enrollment process.

If you do not have a may have access to event and missed Open Enrollment, your only option is to wait until the next October 15. In the meantime, continue paying your current plan's premiums to keep your coverage active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch plans more than once during Open Enrollment?

Yes. If you change your mind, you can switch again before December 7. However, only your final enrollment counts. If you enroll in Plan A on November 1 and then enroll in Plan B on November 20, you will be in Plan B starting January 1, and Plan A enrollment is cancelled. Make sure you are certain about your choice before the important date.

What happens to my current coverage if I switch plans?

Your current plan ends on December 31, and your new plan begins January 1. There is no gap in coverage if you enroll during Open Enrollment. Your old plan will send you a final bill or refund for any overpayment, and your new plan will send you a welcome packet with your new member ID card.

Do I have to switch plans every year?

No. You can stay in the same plan for as long as you want. However, plans change their costs and coverage every year, so it is worth reviewing your plan each fall to make sure it still meets your needs and budget.

What if my doctor leaves my plan's network after I enroll?

If your doctor leaves the network after you enroll, you may have a may have access to event that allows you to switch plans outside Open Enrollment. Contact your plan to ask whether you are may be able to access to change. Some plans also allow you to continue seeing an out-of-network doctor at in-network rates for a limited time while you find a new provider.

Can I switch from one Medigap plan to another?

Yes, you can switch Medigap plans at any time, not just during Open Enrollment. However, if you have been in your current Medigap plan for more than six months, the new insurer may use medical underwriting and charge you higher premiums based on your health. If you want to switch, do it within six months of enrolling in your current plan to avoid underwriting.