How to Cancel or Drop Your Medicare Coverage

You can cancel Medicare, but the timing and method depend on which part you have and why you want to leave

Cancelling Medicare is possible, but it is not the same as cancelling other insurance. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) are federal programs, not private plans you can straightforward opt out of. If you are enrolled in Original Medicare and want to stop, you must contact Social Security or Medicare directly — there is no online cancellation form. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap policy instead, the cancellation process is different and faster. The reason you want to cancel matters too: if you are moving to employer coverage or leaving the country, the process is straightforward. If you are straightforward uninsured and trying to save money, you may face penalties if you re-enroll later.

Key Takeaways

Original Medicare Part A and Part B require you to contact Social Security (1-800-772-1213) or Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) directly to cancel — there is no online form.
Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans can be cancelled during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7 each year) or within 60 days of a may have access to life event.
If you cancel Part B without a valid reason and later re-enroll, you may owe a permanent penalty of 10 percent per year for every 12 months you were not enrolled.
Dropping Medicare to rely on an employer plan, TRICARE, or Veterans Affairs coverage is usually penalty-free if you notify Medicare within 30 days of your new coverage starting.
If you are moving outside the United States, you must contact Medicare to cancel Part A and Part B, as they do not cover care outside U.S. borders.

Cancelling Original Medicare Part A and Part B

To cancel Original Medicare, you must call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-711) or Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). There is no online form, no email option, and no way to do this through your doctor's office. You will need your Medicare card number and the reason you want to cancel. Have this information ready before you call, as wait times can be long during peak hours (early morning and mid-month tend to be busier).

When you call, be clear about which parts you want to cancel. You can cancel Part B while keeping Part A, or cancel both. Part A is hospital insurance and Part B is outpatient medical insurance — they are separate enrollments, so you can drop one without dropping the other. If you are cancelling because you have new employer coverage or you are moving out of the country, say so. This information affects whether you will face a penalty if you re-enroll.

After you cancel, Medicare will send you a written confirmation. Keep this letter. If you later re-enroll and a penalty is assessed, you can use this letter to dispute it if your circumstances have changed.

Cancelling a Medicare Advantage Plan

Medicare Advantage plans (also called Part C) are run by private insurance companies, so cancellation is faster than Original Medicare. You can cancel during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes take effect on January 1. You can also cancel within 60 days of a may have access to life event — marriage, divorce, loss of other coverage, moving out of the plan's service area, or a change in your income that affects your out-of-pocket costs.

To cancel, contact your plan directly using the phone number on your insurance card, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to process the cancellation for you. Some plans allow cancellation through their website, but calling is the safest way to may support the request is recorded. Ask for written confirmation that your plan has been cancelled and when the cancellation takes effect.

If you cancel a Medicare Advantage plan outside the Annual Enrollment Period and without a may have access to life event, you will be without coverage until the next enrollment period unless you switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare when ready. Plan your timing carefully.

Cancelling a Medigap Policy

Medigap policies are supplemental insurance sold by private companies to cover costs that Original Medicare does not pay. You can cancel a Medigap policy at any time by contacting your insurance company directly — there is no waiting period or enrollment window. Call the number on your policy or visit the company's website to request cancellation.

Before you cancel, understand what you are losing. Medigap covers deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance that Original Medicare leaves you responsible for. If you cancel and later want to re-enroll, you may not be able to get the same plan or price, depending on your state and your health. Some states have stronger protections for people re-enrolling in Medigap, but not all.

If you are switching from Medigap to a Medicare Advantage plan, time your cancellation carefully. You can enroll in Medicare Advantage during the Annual Enrollment Period without losing your Medigap coverage first, but once you enroll in Advantage, you cannot return to Medigap without going through underwriting and potentially paying higher premiums.

Understanding the Part B Penalty

If you cancel Part B and do not have a valid reason — such as employer coverage, TRICARE, Veterans Affairs benefits, or moving out of the country — you may face a Part B Late Enrollment Penalty when you re-enroll. This penalty is 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for every 12 months you were not enrolled. If you were not enrolled for three years, your penalty would be 30 percent, and this penalty is permanent — you pay it for as long as you have Medicare.

The penalty does not explore if you had creditable coverage (employer insurance, TRICARE, or VA benefits) during the time you were not enrolled in Part B. You must be able to prove this coverage. If you had a gap in coverage, the penalty may still explore. When you re-enroll, Medicare will calculate your penalty based on your enrollment history.

To avoid the penalty, contact Medicare within 30 days of losing your other coverage and ask them to reinstate Part B without a penalty. Have your former employer's coverage documents or your TRICARE or VA letter ready to show that you had creditable coverage.

What Happens After You Cancel

Once Medicare confirms your cancellation, your coverage ends on the date specified in your cancellation letter. If you cancel Part B on the 15th of a month, your coverage typically ends on the last day of that month. If you cancel on the 1st, it ends on the last day of the previous month. Check your confirmation letter for the exact end date.

After cancellation, you are responsible for all medical costs unless you have other insurance. If you do not have another plan in place, you will be uninsured. If you become ill or injured, you will pay out of pocket until you re-enroll in Medicare or another plan.

If you change your mind and want to re-enroll, you can do so during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31 each year), with coverage starting July 1. You can also re-enroll if you have a may have access to life event. However, if you do not have a valid reason for cancelling, you will owe the Part B penalty described above.

Cancelling Medicare When You Have Other Coverage

If you are cancelling Medicare because you have employer coverage, TRICARE, or Veterans Affairs benefits, notify Medicare within 30 days of your new coverage starting. This protects you from the Part B penalty if you need to re-enroll later. Send a letter to Medicare with your name, Medicare number, the date your new coverage began, and proof of that coverage (a copy of your new insurance card or a letter from your employer's benefits office).

Mail this to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to note your file. Keep a copy of everything you send and ask for a confirmation number.

If you are moving out of the United States permanently, you must cancel Medicare Part A and Part B because they do not cover care outside U.S. borders. Call Medicare and explain that you are relocating. They will ask for your new address and the date you are leaving. You may be able to re-enroll if you return to the U.S. later, but the rules depend on your citizenship status and how long you are gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel Medicare and then re-enroll without a penalty?

Only if you have a valid reason: employer coverage, TRICARE, VA benefits, or moving out of the country. If you cancel Part B without one of these reasons, you will owe a 10 percent penalty per year of non-enrollment when you re-enroll. Notify Medicare within 30 days of losing your other coverage to avoid the penalty.

What if I cancel Medicare Advantage but want to go back to Original Medicare?

You can switch back to Original Medicare during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) or within 60 days of a may have access to life event. If you had a Medigap policy before, you may not be able to re-enroll in the same plan at the same price. Some states protect your right to re-enroll; others do not.

Do I have to cancel all my Medicare coverage at once?

No. Part A and Part B are separate enrollments, so you can cancel Part B and keep Part A, or vice versa. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, cancelling it does not automatically cancel Part A and Part B — you must cancel those separately if you want to.

What happens to my prescriptions if I cancel Medicare Part D?

Part D is prescription drug coverage. If you cancel it and do not have other drug coverage, you will pay full price for medications. If you re-enroll in Part D later, you may owe a penalty. If you are switching to employer coverage with drug benefits, make sure the new coverage starts before your Part D ends.

Can I cancel Medicare online?

No. Original Medicare Part A and Part B require a phone call to Social Security or Medicare. Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans may allow online cancellation through your insurance company's website, but calling is more reliable because you get when ready confirmation.

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.