The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 each year for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
During this period, you can make one change:
If you return to Original Medicare, you can also join a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
Option 1: Switch Medicare Advantage Plans
You can change from your current Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage as applicable.
Option 2: Return to Original Medicare
You can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to:
You can also enroll in a separate Part D plan.
If you’re currently in Original Medicare, this period doesn’t allow you to:
Generally:
The first day of the month after the new plan receives your request.
Example:
Change submitted:
February 10
New coverage generally begins:
March 1
Important: Medigap Is Separate
If you’re planning to leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare and want Medigap, determine whether you can get the Medigap policy before making the switch whenever possible.
Returning to Original Medicare doesn’t automatically guarantee acceptance into Medigap.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Your Second Chance
January through March can be very valuable if you enrolled in Medicare Advantage and quickly realized the plan isn’t working for you.
Maybe your doctor isn’t in the network.
Maybe a medication isn’t covered the way you expected.
Maybe you simply chose the wrong plan.
You get one change during this period.
If you’re thinking about returning to Original Medicare, investigate your Medigap eligibility first.
Medicare Advantage plans cover Medicare-covered cancer treatment, including qualifying chemotherapy, but plan networks, prior authorization rules and out-of-pocket costs can become especially important when someone has cancer.
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period, also commonly called Medicare Open Enrollment, runs, October 15 through December 7 each year.
