You can unenroll from Medicare, but the timing and method depend on which part you want to stop and why

Medicare unenrollment is not the same as cancellation. You do not call Medicare and ask to be removed. Instead, you notify your plan directly — either your insurance company (for Part C or Part D) or Social Security (for Part A and Part B). The process takes a few weeks, and coverage ends on a specific date you choose or that the plan sets. If you miss certain important date, you may be locked out of changes until the next open period, which happens once a year.

The reason you want to unenroll matters. If you are dropping coverage because you have new insurance through an employer or a spouse's plan, the rules are different than if you straightforward want to stop. If you are moving out of your plan's service area, your unenrollment may be automatic. Understanding which part of Medicare you are in and why you are leaving will tell you exactly what to do and when.

Key Takeaways

  • Part C and Part D coverage is dropped by contacting your insurance company directly, not Medicare, and you can do this during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) or during a Special Enrollment Period if you have a may have access to event.
  • Part A and Part B are dropped by contacting Social Security, and you must have other coverage in place (such as employer insurance) or you will owe a penalty when you re-enroll.
  • If you miss the Annual Enrollment Period and do not have a may have access to event, you cannot change your coverage until the next October, so timing your unenrollment matters.
  • Dropping Part D (prescription drug coverage) without other drug coverage can result in a permanent late-enrollment penalty added to your premiums when you re-enroll.
  • Your coverage ends on the last day of the month you request, or on a date set by your plan or a may have access to event, so confirm the exact end date in writing.

Unenrolling from Part C (Medicare Advantage)

Part C is a private insurance plan that replaces Original Medicare. To unenroll, you contact the insurance company directly — not Medicare. You can find the phone number on your insurance card or at Medicare.gov.

You can unenroll during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. Coverage changes take effect January 1. You can also unenroll during a Special Enrollment Period if you have a may have access to event: you move out of the plan's service area, you lose employer coverage, you become may be able to access for Medicaid, or you experience another circumstance Medicare recognizes. When you call, tell the plan you want to disenroll and ask for the exact date your coverage will end. Request written confirmation by mail.

If you unenroll from Part C without enrolling in another plan, you automatically return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You will need to enroll in Part D (prescription drug coverage) separately if you want it, or you may face a penalty later.

Unenrolling from Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)

Part D is prescription drug coverage sold by private insurance companies. You unenroll by contacting your Part D plan directly, using the phone number on your insurance card.

Like Part C, you can change Part D coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) or during a Special Enrollment Period if you have a may have access to event. If you drop Part D and do not have other creditable drug coverage — such as coverage through an employer, a union, or the Veterans Administration — you will owe a late-enrollment penalty when you re-enroll. This penalty is permanent and is added to your Part D premium for as long as you have the coverage. The penalty is roughly 1 percent of the national average Part D premium for each month you were without coverage.

If you are dropping Part D because you have drug coverage elsewhere, bring proof of that coverage when you re-enroll. This proof protects you from the penalty.

Unenrolling from Part A and Part B (Original Medicare)

Part A and Part B are Original Medicare, run by the federal government. To unenroll, you contact Social Security, not your insurance company. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office.

You can only unenroll from Part A and Part B if you have other health insurance in place — usually through an employer, a spouse's employer, or a union. Social Security will ask to see proof of this coverage. If you do not have other coverage, you cannot unenroll, and attempting to do so may cause gaps in your Medicare.

There is no Annual Enrollment Period for unenrolling from Part A and Part B. You can request to stop coverage at any time, and it typically ends on the last day of the month you request. However, if you unenroll and later want to re-enroll, you may face a permanent premium penalty unless you have a may have access to reason (such as losing your employer coverage). This penalty is 10 percent of the Part B premium for each year you were without coverage.

What Happens When You Unenroll

When your unenrollment is processed, your current plan sends you a confirmation letter stating the exact date your coverage ends. Read this letter carefully and keep it. If you are switching to a different plan, make sure your new coverage starts the same day your old coverage ends, or you will have a gap.

If you unenroll from Part C, you return to Original Medicare automatically. If you unenroll from Part D without other drug coverage, you will have no prescription drug coverage until you re-enroll, and you will owe a penalty. If you unenroll from Part A and Part B, you must have other insurance active on the day your Medicare ends, or you will be uninsured.

After unenrollment, you will stop paying premiums to that plan. However, you may owe premiums to a new plan if you are switching. You will also receive a new insurance card from Medicare or your new plan within two to three weeks.

Missing the Annual Enrollment Period

If you want to change your Medicare coverage but miss the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), you cannot make changes until the next October unless you have a may have access to event. may have access to events include moving out of your plan's service area, losing employer coverage, becoming may be able to access for Medicaid, getting married or divorced, or experiencing other circumstances Medicare recognizes.

If you have a may have access to event, you have 60 days from the date of the event to make changes. You must report the event to Medicare or your plan and provide proof. Common proof includes a lease showing a new address, a letter from your employer saying coverage ended, or a marriage certificate. Without proof, your request will be denied.

If you do not have a may have access to event and you miss the important date, you are locked in until October. This is why it is important to plan ahead if you know you want to unenroll.

Penalties for Unenrolling Without Other Coverage

Dropping Medicare coverage without having other insurance in place can be expensive. If you unenroll from Part D and do not have other drug coverage, you owe a late-enrollment penalty of roughly 1 percent of the national average Part D premium for each month without coverage. This penalty is permanent.

If you unenroll from Part B and later re-enroll, you owe a penalty of 10 percent of the Part B premium for each year you were without coverage. This penalty is also permanent. These penalties exist to discourage people from dropping coverage when they are healthy and re-enrolling when they get sick.

The only way to avoid these penalties is to have other creditable coverage — coverage that is at least as good as Medicare — in place before you unenroll. If you have employer coverage, a union plan, or VA coverage, ask the plan administrator for a letter stating that your coverage is creditable. Keep this letter for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I unenroll from Medicare in the middle of the year?

You can unenroll from Part C or Part D at any time during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) or if you have a may have access to event like moving or losing other insurance. For Part A and Part B, you can request unenrollment at any time, but you must have other coverage in place. Outside these windows, you are locked in until the next October.

What if I unenroll and then change my mind?

If you change your mind before your coverage ends, contact your plan when ready and ask to cancel the unenrollment request. If your coverage has already ended, you can re-enroll during the next Annual Enrollment Period or if you have a may have access to event. If you re-enroll outside the Annual Enrollment Period without a may have access to event, you may face a penalty.

Do I have to unenroll from all parts of Medicare at once?

No. You can unenroll from Part C without unenrolling from Part A and Part B. You can unenroll from Part D separately. However, if you unenroll from Part C, you return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) automatically, so you cannot avoid that.

What if my plan is leaving Medicare?

If your insurance company stops offering your plan, you will be notified by mail. You will have a Special Enrollment Period to switch to a different plan without penalty. Your current coverage will end on December 31, and your new coverage will start January 1. You do not need to request unenrollment; the plan handles it.

Will I owe money after I unenroll?

You will not owe premiums to the plan you left after your coverage ends. However, if you have unpaid claims or copayments from before your unenrollment date, the plan may bill you. You will also owe premiums to any new plan you enroll in. If you unenroll from Part D or Part B without other coverage, you will owe a penalty when you re-enroll.