When and how you can change plans
You can switch Medicare plans during Open Enrollment, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. During this window, you can move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, switch from one Advantage plan to another, or change your prescription drug coverage. Changes take effect January 1 of the following year.
Outside Open Enrollment, you can switch plans only if you have a may have access to life event — moving to a new state, losing employer coverage, getting married, or becoming newly may be able to access for Medicaid. You then have 60 days from the event to make a change. If you miss Open Enrollment 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 basic information, and sign up. Your old plan ends automatically on December 31. You do not need to cancel your old plan yourself — the new one handles the transition.
Key Takeaways
- Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year, and changes take effect January 1.
- You can switch plans outside Open Enrollment only if you have a may have access to life event like moving, losing coverage, or getting married.
- Contact your new plan directly to switch — you do not need to cancel your old plan yourself.
- Compare plans before you switch by checking premiums, deductibles, which doctors are in-network, and whether your medications are covered.
- If you switch from Original Medicare to Advantage, you lose Original Medicare coverage and cannot switch back until the next Open Enrollment.
What to compare before you switch
Do not switch based on premium alone. A plan with a lower monthly cost may have a higher deductible, higher copays, or a narrower network of doctors and hospitals. Use the Medicare Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov to compare plans side by side in your area.
Check three things: whether your current doctors and hospitals are in-network, whether your prescription medications are on the plan's formulary (the list of covered drugs), and what you will pay out of pocket for the services you use most. If you see a specialist regularly or take multiple medications, a plan with a lower premium but higher copays may cost you more overall.
If you are switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, understand that Advantage plans often have lower premiums but require you to use in-network providers and may have prior authorization requirements for certain treatments. If you switch back to Original Medicare later, you may not be able to buy a Medigap supplemental policy without going through underwriting again, which can mean higher premiums or denial of coverage.
How to switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
Call the Medicare Advantage plan you want to join. They will ask for your Medicare number (on your red, white, and blue Medicare card), date of birth, and address. You can also sign up online through the plan's website or through Medicare.gov.
The plan will confirm that you are may be able to access, explain the coverage details, and send you a confirmation letter with your new member ID and effective date. Your Original Medicare coverage ends on December 31, and your Advantage plan begins January 1. You do not need to contact Medicare or your old plan — the switch happens automatically in the system.
If you have a Medigap supplemental policy, contact that insurer to cancel it before your Advantage plan starts. You cannot have both at the same time, and paying for both wastes money.
How to switch between Medicare Advantage plans
Call your new plan or visit their website to sign up. Provide your Medicare number, date of birth, and address. The new plan will verify your may be able to access and send a confirmation letter.
Your old Advantage plan ends December 31, and your new one begins January 1. You do not need to contact your old plan or Medicare. If your old plan charges a monthly premium, it will stop being deducted from your Social Security check or bank account once the switch takes effect.
If you are switching because your current plan is leaving your area or dropping coverage you need, you may be able to switch outside Open Enrollment. Contact your current plan to ask whether you may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period.
How to switch prescription drug coverage
If you have Original Medicare and a standalone prescription drug plan (Part D), you can switch to a different drug plan during Open Enrollment without changing your medical coverage. Call the new plan, provide your Medicare number and date of birth, and sign up.
Your new drug plan begins January 1. Your old plan ends automatically. If your old plan charges a monthly premium, it will stop being deducted once the switch takes effect.
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, your prescription drug coverage is built in. To change drug coverage, you must switch to a different Advantage plan or switch to Original Medicare plus a standalone drug plan.
What documents and information you need
Have your Medicare card in front of you when you call or sign up online. You will need your Medicare number, date of birth, and current mailing address. If you are switching because of a may have access to life event, have documentation of that event ready — a lease or utility bill for a move, a letter from your employer for loss of coverage, or a marriage certificate.
If you are comparing plans before you switch, have a list of your current doctors and medications. The Medicare Plan Finder tool lets you enter these details to see which plans cover them.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not wait until December 7 to switch if you are planning a change. The system can be slow in the final days of Open Enrollment, and if your request does not process in time, you will be locked into your current plan for another year. Switch by early December.
Do not assume your doctor is in-network just because they accept Medicare. Different Advantage plans have different networks. Call your doctor's office and ask which plans they participate in, or use the plan's provider directory before you sign up.
Do not keep a Medigap policy if you switch to Medicare Advantage. You will be paying for coverage you cannot use, and you may not be able to buy a new Medigap policy later without underwriting.
Do not switch plans multiple times in one year hoping to find a better deal. You can only switch during Open Enrollment or if you have a may have access to life event. Plan your switch carefully so you do not waste the opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch plans if I just realized my doctor is not in-network?
If you are still within Open Enrollment (through December 7), yes — you can switch to a plan that includes your doctor. If Open Enrollment has ended and you do not have a may have access to life event, you are locked in until next October. Call your current plan to ask whether they have a Special Enrollment Period for network changes; some do, though most do not.
What happens if I switch plans and then change my mind?
If you change your mind during Open Enrollment, you can switch again before December 7. If Open Enrollment has ended, you cannot switch back unless you have a may have access to life event. There is no grace period or trial period for plan changes.
Do I lose my benefits if I switch plans mid-year?
No. If you switch during Open Enrollment, your new plan begins January 1 and your old plan ends December 31. Your coverage does not lapse. If you switch outside Open Enrollment due to a may have access to life event, your new plan typically begins the first of the month after you sign up.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare outside Open Enrollment?
Only if you have a may have access to life event like moving out of your plan's service area, losing your Advantage plan because it is being discontinued, or becoming newly may be able to access for Medicaid. Otherwise, you must wait for Open Enrollment in October.
What if my new plan does not cover a medication my old plan did?
Before you switch, check the new plan's formulary to see whether your medications are covered. If a medication is not covered, you can ask the plan for an exception, or you can switch to a different plan during Open Enrollment. Do not switch first and discover the problem after January 1.