Changing Your Medicare Plan

When Can I Change My Medicare Plan?

October 15th to December 7th

If you already have a Medicare health insurance plan, you can change or drop your Medicare Advantage and/or Prescription Drug plan during the Annual Election Period (AEP), October 15th to December 7th.

What Changes Can I Make During Annual Election Period (AEP)

Change from Original Medicare Part A and B to a Part C - Medicare Advantage plan
Switch to a different Part C - Medicare Advantage plan
Change from a Part C - Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare Part A and B
Sign up for a Part D Prescription Drug plan
Switch to a different Part D Prescription Drug plan
Drop a Part D Prescription Drug plan

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP) (new as of 2019)

January 1st to March 31st

If you are not satisfied with your current Medicare Advantage Plan, you can make the following changes:

Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without prescription drug coverage)
Disenroll from your current Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. You will also be able to enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan.

Can I Make Changes During a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)?

You may qualify to make changes to your Medicare plan outside of the Annual Election Period (AEP) if you have certain life events occur. Examples of life events which may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period include, but are not limited to, the following:

Moving where you live - move to a new address or return to the U.S. after living outside the country
Lost your current health insurance coverage - no longer eligible for other health insurance or dropping your employer’s plan
Eligible for other health insurance - newly eligible for other health insurance such as a plan from your employer
Official change from the federal government - contractual change between Medicare and the health insurance company offering your plan

There may be different Special Enrollment time frames for different qualifying life events.

More information

For more information on this topic, please visit www.medicare.gov