You can switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during specific windows each year, and the process is straightforward once you know the important date

Switching from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare is possible, but the timing matters. You cannot switch whenever you want — you have to move during one of three annual windows, or wait for a may have access to life event. The most common window is the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. During this time, you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and enroll in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) plus a separate prescription drug plan (Part D) and, if you want it, a Medigap policy to cover costs Original Medicare does not pay.

The second window is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOP), which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. During MAOP, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, switch to Original Medicare, or drop coverage altogether. The third window is the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which applies only if you are newly turning 65 or newly becoming may be able to access for Medicare. If you experience a may have access to life event — such as loss of employer coverage, a move out of your plan's service area, or loss of a spouse — you may be able to switch outside these windows during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Key Takeaways

  • You can switch to Original Medicare during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) each year.
  • A may have access to life event, such as moving out of your plan's service area or losing employer coverage, may allow you to switch during a Special Enrollment Period outside the regular windows.
  • When you switch, you will need to enroll in Original Medicare Part A and Part B, choose a separate Part D prescription drug plan, and decide whether to buy a Medigap policy.
  • Your new Original Medicare coverage typically begins the first day of the month after you enroll, so timing your switch matters if you want continuous coverage.
  • You do not need to contact your current Medicare Advantage plan to leave — Medicare handles the disenrollment when you enroll in Original Medicare.

The three annual enrollment windows and when they explore

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. This is the longest and most widely used window. During AEP, you can switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, switch between Medicare Advantage plans, or switch to a different prescription drug plan. Any changes you make during AEP take effect on January 1 of the following year. This means if you enroll in Original Medicare on November 1, your coverage begins January 1.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOP) runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. During MAOP, you have the same switching options as during AEP, but the timing is different: changes take effect on the first day of the month after you enroll. So if you switch on February 15, your new coverage begins March 1. MAOP is useful if you want to make a change after the October important date has passed, or if you want your new coverage to start sooner than January 1.

The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) applies only if you are newly turning 65 or newly becoming may be able to access for Medicare due to disability or end-stage renal disease. Your IEP is a seven-month window that begins three months before the month you turn 65 (or become may be able to access) and ends three months after. During your IEP, you can enroll in Original Medicare for the first time. Once your IEP ends, you can only switch during AEP or MAOP unless you have a may have access to life event.

may have access to life events that open a Special Enrollment Period

If you experience certain life changes, you may be able to switch outside the regular enrollment windows during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). A SEP typically lasts 60 days from the date of your may have access to event. Common may have access to events include moving out of your Medicare Advantage plan's service area, loss of employer-sponsored health coverage, loss of a spouse, divorce, or death of a family member. Some plans also trigger a SEP if they leave the Medicare program or if you lose coverage due to plan changes.

To use a SEP, you will need to show proof of the may have access to event when you enroll. For example, if you moved, you may need to provide a lease or utility bill showing your new address. If you lost employer coverage, you may need a letter from your employer or former employer stating the end date of coverage. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to report your life event and confirm whether you may have access to for a SEP. Medicare can tell you whether your situation qualifies and how long your SEP window lasts.

Steps to switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare

The process has three main steps: disenroll from Medicare Advantage, enroll in Original Medicare, and choose a Part D plan and Medigap policy if you want one.

Step 1: Disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan. You do this by enrolling in Original Medicare — you do not need to contact your current plan first. When Medicare receives your enrollment in Original Medicare, your Medicare Advantage plan ends automatically. You can enroll in Original Medicare online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or in person at your local Social Security office. You will need your Medicare number, which is on your Medicare card.

Step 2: Enroll in Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Most people are automatically enrolled in Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) when they turn 65, so you may already have them. If you do not, you will need to enroll during your enrollment window. Part B has a monthly premium that varies by income; Part A is free for most people. When you enroll in Original Medicare, Medicare will confirm your Part A and Part B coverage and give you an effective date.

Step 3: Choose a Part D prescription drug plan and decide on Medigap. Original Medicare does not cover prescription drugs, so you will need to enroll in a separate Part D plan during your enrollment window. You can find and compare Part D plans at Medicare.gov. Part D plans vary in cost and which drugs they cover, so compare plans before you choose. You should also consider whether to buy a Medigap policy, which helps pay for costs Original Medicare does not cover, such as copayments and coinsurance. Medigap policies are sold by private insurance companies, not by Medicare.

Timing and effective dates for your switch

The effective date of your new coverage depends on when you enroll and which enrollment window you use. During the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), changes take effect on January 1 of the following year, regardless of when in October or November you enroll. During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), changes take effect on the first day of the month after you enroll. During a Special Enrollment Period, changes typically take effect on the first day of the month after you enroll, but this can vary depending on your specific may have access to event — ask Medicare to confirm your effective date when you enroll.

Plan ahead for the gap between when you enroll and when your coverage starts. If you enroll on November 15 during AEP, your Original Medicare coverage does not begin until January 1, which means your Medicare Advantage plan is still active through December 31. You will have continuous coverage. However, if you enroll on March 20 during MAOP, your new coverage begins April 1, so your Medicare Advantage plan covers you through March 31. Make sure you understand your effective date so you know which plan is active on any given date.

What happens to your Medicare Advantage plan when you switch

Your Medicare Advantage plan ends on the day before your Original Medicare coverage begins. You do not need to contact your current plan to tell them you are leaving — Medicare handles the disenrollment automatically when you enroll in Original Medicare. However, it is a good idea to keep your Medicare Advantage plan materials until you confirm that your Original Medicare coverage has started, in case you need to reference your old plan's information for any reason.

After you switch, you will no longer have access to your Medicare Advantage plan's network of doctors and hospitals, and you will no longer have the same prescription drug coverage. Original Medicare is accepted by nearly all doctors and hospitals in the United States, so you will have much broader choice of providers. However, Original Medicare has different cost-sharing rules than Medicare Advantage — you will pay a deductible, copayments, and coinsurance instead of the copays and out-of-pocket maximums you may be used to. This is why many people buy a Medigap policy when they switch to Original Medicare.

Medigap and Part D: what you need to know when switching

When you switch to Original Medicare, you will need to enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan because Original Medicare does not cover medications. You can enroll in Part D at the same time you enroll in Original Medicare, and it takes effect on the same date. Part D plans are offered by private insurance companies and vary in cost, deductible, and which drugs they cover. You can compare plans at Medicare.gov and choose the one that best fits your medications and budget.

You should also consider buying a Medigap policy. Medigap is supplemental insurance sold by private companies that helps pay for costs Original Medicare does not cover, such as copayments, coinsurance, and the Part B deductible. There are ten standardized Medigap plans, labeled A through N, and each covers a different set of costs. Medigap policies have monthly premiums in addition to your Medicare Part B premium. If you buy Medigap within 63 days of enrolling in Part B, you have a may provide issue right, which means insurance companies cannot deny you coverage or charge you more based on your health history. If you wait longer than 63 days, you may face higher premiums or denial of coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch back to Medicare Advantage after I switch to Original Medicare?

Yes, but only during an enrollment window. You can switch back during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). If you have a may have access to life event, you may also be able to switch during a Special Enrollment Period. You cannot switch back outside these windows.

Do I lose my doctors when I switch to Original Medicare?

Not necessarily. Original Medicare is accepted by nearly all doctors and hospitals in the United States, so most doctors who accepted your Medicare Advantage plan will also accept Original Medicare. However, you should check with your doctors to confirm they accept Original Medicare before you switch, especially if you have a specialist you want to keep seeing.

What if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving the program?

If your plan is leaving Medicare, you will receive a notice from your plan. This triggers a Special Enrollment Period that allows you to switch to Original Medicare or a different Medicare Advantage plan outside the regular enrollment windows. You typically have until the end of the month your plan leaves to make a change.

Will I have a gap in coverage if I switch during MAOP?

No. During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), your new coverage begins on the first day of the month after you enroll, and your old plan ends on the last day of the previous month. For example, if you enroll on February 15, your new coverage begins March 1 and your old plan ends February 28. You will have continuous coverage with no gap.

Can I enroll in Part D at a different time than Original Medicare?

You can enroll in Part D at the same time as Original Medicare, or you can enroll in Part D later during an enrollment window. However, if you delay enrolling in Part D beyond your enrollment window and you do not have other creditable prescription drug coverage, you may face a late enrollment penalty added to your Part D premium for as long as you have Part D coverage.