When and How You Can Change Plans

You can switch Medicare plans during Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes take effect January 1. Outside this window, you can only switch if you experience a may have access to life event — moving to a new state, losing employer coverage, getting married, or entering a nursing home. You have 60 days from the event to make the 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 exception is Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare: you can switch back to Original Medicare during January 1–28 each year, no event required. This one-month window exists only for people already in Advantage plans.

Switching plans does not affect your Medicare Part A or Part B coverage — you keep those. You are changing only your prescription drug plan (Part D), your supplemental insurance (Medigap), or your entire Advantage plan.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and any change you make takes 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 such as moving, losing coverage, or entering a facility.
  • Medicare Advantage members can switch back to Original Medicare during January 1–28 without a may have access to event.
  • You must contact your new plan directly or use Medicare.gov to complete the switch — your old plan does not process the change for you.
  • Your coverage ends with the old plan on December 31 and begins with the new plan on January 1, so do not cancel early.

Steps to Switch During Open Enrollment

Start by reviewing your current plan's costs and coverage. Check whether your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are still in-network for the coming year — networks change annually. Use the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov to compare plans available in your zip code. Enter your medications to see which plans cover them and at what cost.

Once you have chosen a new plan, contact that plan directly to switch. You can call the plan's customer service number (on their website or your mail), visit their website, or use Medicare.gov to enroll. You do not need to contact your old plan — the new plan handles the paperwork. Confirm your enrollment by checking your new plan's welcome packet, which arrives before January 1.

Do not cancel your old plan yourself. Your coverage automatically ends December 31 and your new coverage begins January 1. If you cancel early, you may have a gap in coverage and face a late-enrollment penalty.

How to Switch After a may have access to Life Event

A may have access to event gives you a Special Enrollment Period of 60 days to change plans outside of Open Enrollment. may have access to events include: moving out of your plan's service area, losing employer or union coverage, getting married or divorced, becoming a U.S. citizen or gaining lawful residency, or entering a skilled nursing facility or long-term care facility.

Report the event to Medicare within 60 days. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit Medicare.gov, or contact your plan directly. Have documentation ready: a lease or utility bill for a move, a letter from your employer for loss of coverage, a marriage certificate, or facility paperwork. Medicare will confirm your event and give you a window to switch.

Once approved, you have the remainder of the 60-day period to enroll in a new plan. Contact the new plan the same way you would during Open Enrollment — by phone, website, or Medicare.gov. Your coverage change takes effect on the first day of the month after your plan receives your enrollment.

Switching from Advantage to Original Medicare

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan and want to return to Original Medicare, you have two routes. During Open Enrollment (October 15–December 7), you can switch to Original Medicare or to a different Advantage plan. During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–28), you can switch only back to Original Medicare — not to another Advantage plan.

To switch, contact Original Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or visiting Medicare.gov. You do not need to contact your Advantage plan. At the same time, you should enroll in a Medigap plan (supplemental insurance) or a Part D plan (prescription drugs) if you want coverage beyond what Original Medicare provides. Medigap and Part D enrollment can happen at any time, but January is ideal because you can coordinate it with your Advantage switch.

Your Advantage coverage ends on December 31 (if you switch during Open Enrollment) or on January 31 (if you switch during the January window). Original Medicare begins the next day.

Switching from Original Medicare to Advantage

You can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan during Open Enrollment (October 15–December 7). The new Advantage plan takes effect January 1. Contact the Advantage plan directly by phone or website, or enroll through Medicare.gov.

Before switching, confirm that your doctors and hospitals are in the Advantage plan's network. Advantage plans often have smaller networks than Original Medicare, and out-of-network care may cost more or not be covered at all. Call your doctor's office to verify they accept the plan.

You do not need to cancel Original Medicare yourself — your Advantage plan enrollment automatically replaces it on January 1. However, if you have a Medigap plan, you should contact that insurer to cancel it, because you cannot use Medigap while in Advantage. If you later switch back to Original Medicare, you may not be able to re-enroll in the same Medigap plan at the same rate.

Changing Your Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)

You can change your Part D plan during Open Enrollment without changing your Advantage or Original Medicare coverage. Use the Medicare Plan Finder to compare plans in your area, enter your current medications, and see the out-of-pocket costs for each plan. Prices and formularies (the list of covered drugs) change every year, so even if you liked your plan last year, it may cost more now.

Contact your new Part D plan to enroll, or use Medicare.gov. Your new coverage begins January 1. You do not need to notify your old plan — the switch happens automatically. If you miss Open Enrollment and have no may have access to event, you cannot change Part D plans until the next October.

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D, switching your Part D plan means switching your entire Advantage plan, because they are bundled together. To keep your Advantage plan but change your drug coverage, you would need to switch to Original Medicare plus a standalone Part D plan — which requires Open Enrollment or a may have access to event.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not wait until December to compare plans. Open Enrollment ends December 7, and customer service lines are busiest in November and early December. Start reviewing plans in October so you have time to make calls and ask questions.

Do not assume your doctor is in-network. Networks change every year. Call your doctor's office or the plan's customer service line to confirm before you enroll. Switching plans mid-year because your doctor is not covered is not a may have access to event.

Do not cancel your old plan before January 1. If you cancel early, you may have a gap in coverage. Your old coverage ends automatically on December 31, and your new coverage begins January 1.

Do not ignore the welcome packet from your new plan. It contains your member ID, which you need to use your new coverage starting January 1. If you do not receive it by December 20, call the plan to request it.

Where to Get Help

Medicare.gov has a Plan Finder tool and step-by-step enrollment instructions. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak with a representative who can walk you through your options and help you enroll. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Your State Health Insurance information Program (SHIP) offers free, one-on-one counseling about Medicare plans. Find your state's SHIP by visiting shiptalk.org or calling 1-877-839-2675. Counselors can review your current plan, compare options, and help you understand costs.

If you are switching because of a life event, have your documentation ready when you call Medicare or your plan. This speeds up the process and reduces the chance of delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss the Open Enrollment important date?

You cannot switch plans until the next Open Enrollment period (October 15–December 7) unless you have a may have access to life event. If you are in an Advantage plan, you can switch back to Original Medicare during January 1–28 without an event. Otherwise, you are locked in until October.

Can I switch plans more than once during Open Enrollment?

Yes, you can change your mind and switch to a different plan as many times as you want during Open Enrollment. Only your final enrollment counts. However, do not wait until the last day — if there is a processing error, you will not have time to fix it.

Do I have to switch plans if my doctor leaves the network?

Your doctor leaving the network is not a may have access to life event, so you cannot switch outside of Open Enrollment. However, some plans allow you to request a continuity-of-care exception, which may let you keep seeing that doctor out-of-network for a limited time. Contact your plan to ask.

What if I switch plans and then change my mind in January?

If you switched to an Advantage plan and want to go back to Original Medicare, you can do so during January 1–28 with no penalty. If you switched to a different Advantage plan or to Original Medicare and want to switch again, you cannot until the next Open Enrollment — unless you have a may have access to event.

Will switching plans affect my Part A or Part B coverage?

No. Switching plans changes only your Part D (drugs), Medigap (supplemental), or Advantage plan. Your Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) coverage stays the same. You keep the same Medicare number and benefits.