What is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

You must already be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan to use this period. It is not a general enrollment period for everyone with Medicare, and it is not the same as the fall Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Medicare also gives people who joined a Medicare Advantage plan during their Initial Enrollment Period a chance to make a change within the first three months they have both Part A and Part B.

If you have Original Medicare and want to join a Medicare Advantage plan, the January through March period does not generally give you that option. You may need to wait for another enrollment period or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Read our Special Enrollment Period guide to understand common qualifying events.

You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage. Or, you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan, return to Original Medicare, and join a standalone Part D prescription drug plan. Medicare says the new coverage generally starts on the first day of the month after the plan receives your request.

Before you change, compare your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, pharmacy access, monthly premium, copays, and maximum out-of-pocket limit. Our Original Medicare versus Medicare Advantage guide and Medicare Advantage plan selection guide can help you review the tradeoffs.

Returning to Original Medicare can give you broader provider access, but it changes how you manage cost-sharing and drug coverage. You may need to select a separate Part D plan. You may also want Medigap coverage to help with Original Medicare cost-sharing, but the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period does not automatically create a right to buy a Medigap policy without medical underwriting.

Read our Medicare Advantage versus Medigap comparison, Medigap Open Enrollment guide, and Florida guaranteed issue rights FAQ before you leave a plan.