Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January to March): What You Can Change

Most people know about the fall enrollment period for Medicare, from October 15 to December 7.

Fewer know that there is a second window early in the year for people in Medicare Advantage plans.

It runs from January 1 to March 31,

and it gives you one chance to change course if the plan you chose is not working out.

This guide explains who can use this window, what you can change, what you cannot, and how to decide whether a change makes sense.

What the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period takes place every year from January 1 to March 31.

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one change during this period.

If you are new to Medicare and joined an Advantage plan during your first months of eligibility,

a similar three-month opportunity can apply to you as well.

The change takes effect on the first day of the month after the plan receives your request.

What you can do

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. If you do, you can also join a separate Medicare drug plan.

You can make only one of these changes during the period.

Once you have used it, you generally have to wait for the next enrollment window, unless you qualify for a special situation.

What you cannot do

• You cannot switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan during this window.
• You cannot switch from one stand-alone drug plan to another if you have Original Medicare.
• You cannot make more than one change.

If you have Original Medicare with a separate drug plan, this window does not apply to you.

Your main opportunity to change is the fall enrollment period.

Knowing which group you are in avoids wasted calls and false hopes,

so check your member card or your plan letters if you are unsure what kind of coverage you have.

Good reasons to use it

This window exists for people who discover early in the year that their plan does not fit.

A decision made in a busy fall, sometimes under pressure from advertising or phone calls,

can look different once you start using the plan in January. Common reasons to use the window include:

• A doctor or hospital you rely on turned out not to be in network.
• A drug you take is not covered or costs far more than expected.
• Prior authorization or referral rules are getting in the way of your care.
• Your costs are much higher than you planned for.

Thinking about returning to Original Medicare?

Going back to Original Medicare gives you the freedom to see any doctor who accepts Medicare, but think about the gaps.

Original Medicare has no yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs, which is why many people add a Medigap policy.

Outside of certain protected situations,

insurers in many states may consider your health when you apply for Medigap after your initial period,

which can mean higher prices or a refusal.

Before you drop your Advantage plan, find out whether you could get a Medigap policy and what it would cost.

A SHIP counselor can explain your state's rules.

How to make the change

1. Compare plans in the official Medicare Plan Finder with your drugs, pharmacy and doctors.
2. Confirm your doctors by calling their offices.
3. Enroll in the new plan through the Plan Finder, by calling Medicare or by contacting the plan. Joining a new Advantage plan usually ends the old one automatically.
4. If returning to Original Medicare, contact your current plan or Medicare to disenroll, and join a separate drug plan if you want drug coverage.

Other times you may be able to change

The January window is not the only option. Special Enrollment Periods allow changes outside the usual windows in certain situations,

such as moving out of your plan's service area, moving into or out of a nursing home, losing other coverage,

or qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid.

If one of these applies to you, you may not need to use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period at all.

Because the rules for each situation differ, ask Medicare or a SHIP counselor which options you have before deciding.

Keep records of the change

Whenever you switch plans, keep a copy of your enrollment confirmation,

write down the date and the name of anyone you spoke with,

and watch for your new member card and welcome materials.

Until the new card arrives, keep the confirmation with you for pharmacy and doctor visits.

If something looks wrong, such as being charged by your old plan after the switch date, contact both plans and Medicare promptly.

Don't wait until the end of March

Because the change takes effect the month after your request,

acting in January or February shortens the time you spend in a plan that does not fit.

Waiting until the last days of March also leaves no room to fix mistakes, and help lines tend to be busier near any deadline.

A quick decision checklist

• Is the problem with my plan serious enough to change now, or can it wait until fall?
• Have I confirmed the new plan covers my drugs and includes my doctors?
• If I return to Original Medicare, do I understand the costs without a supplement?
• Have I talked to a SHIP counselor or Medicare about my situation?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this window to try a plan and switch back?

You get only one change in this period, so think it through first.

What if I miss this window?

Your next regular chance is the fall enrollment period, unless a special situation, such as moving, gives you a Special Enrollment Period.

Where can I get help deciding?

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free, unbiased counseling, and you can also call Medicare.

This guide is general information and is not affiliated with Medicare or any plan. Confirm details with the official sources.

Sources and Further Reading

• Medicare.gov — Joining a health or drug plan: all the windows to join, switch or drop a plan.
• Medicare.gov — Medicare Advantage plans: how Advantage plans work.
• Medicare.gov — Medigap: supplemental policies and when you can buy one.
• SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Programs: free help deciding.