Can I change Medicare Advantage plans at any time?

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No, you can’t switch Medicare Advantage plans whenever you want but you have options if you’re unhappy with your plan.

You can shift to another plan or drop your Medicare Advantage plan altogether and move to original Medicare. Technically, you can do this only during certain times of the year, but you may

be eligible to change plans at other times too. Keep the two enrollment periods below in mind if you want to see doctors or use medications that aren’t covered under your Medicare Advantage

plan.

Annual enrollment period — Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. You have many options to change coverage during annual open enrollment. You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, change from an MA

plan to original Medicare and vice versa, or switch from one Part D drug plan to another. Your coverage begins Jan. 1. 

Medicare Advantage open enrollment period —Jan. 1 to March 31. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another MA plan, or change from Medicare Advantage to original

Medicare and join a Part D plan during MA open enrollment period. Your coverage begins the first day of the month after you switch.

If you leave Medicare Advantage for original Medicare, you may not be guaranteed a Medigap plan except under certain circumstances.

In certain situations, you may be able to change Medicare Advantage plans outside of the two enrollment periods.

Your first year in a Medicare Advantage plan. This counts as a trial period in two circumstances. You can drop out of the plan and return to original Medicare with the right to buy Medigap

supplement insurance during the first 12 months, if you:

Joined the plan when you enrolled in Medicare at age 65.Dropped a Medigap policy to join the Advantage plan, and it’s the first Advantage plan you’ve enrolled in.