How To Switch Plans During Open Enrollment

Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. Since plans can change each year, this period is a time where all Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their coverage. This includes the opportunity to switch from your current plan to a different one, whether you have Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.

Christian Simmons, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • Written by
    Christian Simmons

    Christian Simmons

    Financial Writer

    Christian Simmons is a writer for RetireGuide and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®). He covers Medicare and important retirement topics. Christian is a former winner of a Florida Society of News Editors journalism contest and has written professionally since 2016.

    Read More
  • Edited By
    Lamia Chowdhury
    Lamia Chowdhury, editor for RetireGuide.com

    Lamia Chowdhury

    Financial Editor

    Lamia Chowdhury is a financial content editor for RetireGuide and has over three years of marketing experience in the finance industry. She has written copy for both digital and print pieces ranging from blogs, radio scripts and search ads to billboards, brochures, mailers and more.

    Read More
  • Reviewed By
    Eric Estevez
    Eric Estevez, Independent Licensed Life Insurance Agent

    Eric Estevez

    Owner of HLC Insurance Broker, LLC

    Eric Estevez is a duly licensed independent insurance broker and a former financial institution auditor with more than a decade of professional experience. He has specialized in federal, state and local compliance for both large and small businesses.

    Read More
  • Published: August 10, 2022
  • Updated: May 8, 2023
  • 5 min read time
  • This page features 5 Cited Research Articles
Fact Checked
Fact Checked

A licensed insurance professional reviewed this page for accuracy and compliance with the CMS Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMGs) and Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) carriers’ guidelines.

Cite Us
How to Cite RetireGuide.com's Article

APA Simmons, C. (2023, May 8). How To Switch Plans During Open Enrollment. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/eligibility-and-enrollment/open-enrollment-period/how-to-switch-plans/

MLA Simmons, Christian. "How To Switch Plans During Open Enrollment." RetireGuide.com, 8 May 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/eligibility-and-enrollment/open-enrollment-period/how-to-switch-plans/.

Chicago Simmons, Christian. "How To Switch Plans During Open Enrollment." RetireGuide.com. Last modified May 8, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/eligibility-and-enrollment/open-enrollment-period/how-to-switch-plans/.

Why Trust RetireGuide.com
Why You Can Trust Us

Content created by RetireGuide and sponsored by our partners.

Key Principles

RetireGuide’s mission is to provide seniors with resources that will help them reach important financial decisions that affect their retirement. Our goal is to arm our readers with knowledge that will lead to a healthy and financially sound retirement.

We’re dedicated to providing thoroughly researched Medicare information that guides you toward making the best possible health decisions for you and your family.

RetireGuide LLC has partnerships with Senior Market Sales (SMS) and GoHealth.

Our partners are able to be reached through the phone numbers and/or forms provided on our website.

The content and tools created by RetireGuide adhere to strict Medicare and editorial guidelines to ensure quality and transparency.

Editorial Independence

While the experts from our partners are available to help you navigate various Medicare plans, RetireGuide retains complete editorial control over the information it publishes.

We operate independently from our partners, which allows the award-winning RetireGuide team to provide you with unbiased information.

Visitors can trust our inflexibility regarding our editorial autonomy. We do not allow our partnership to influence RetireGuide’s editorial content whatsoever.

Can You Switch Medicare Plans During Open Enrollment?

Open enrollment exists to give beneficiaries the chance to make changes to their coverage and switch plans each year.

Your options during this period include switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage or vice versa. You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. In addition, you can look into adding a Part D plan or switching to a different Part D plan during this time.

Essentially, open enrollment gives you the chance to go over all your Medicare options and switch to the plan that makes the most sense for you.

Considerations for Switching

When switching to a different Medicare plan, the most important thing to consider is what makes the most sense both financially and for your personal situation.

For example, you may have found in the last year that Original Medicare does not provide the level of coverage that you need. You could then use the open enrollment period to research Medicare Advantage plans available in your area and potentially switch to one that fits your needs.

Or you may find that Original Medicare is sufficient, but prescription drug coverage has become more important to you in the last year, and you’d like to join a Part D plan.

Even if you aren’t currently considering switching plans, it may be wise to take at least some time during open enrollment to review your other options since plan offerings can change year to year.

It’s important to note that this may be the only time of the year you can switch plans. However, if you have Medicare Advantage, then there is an additional enrollment window for beneficiaries on private plans from January through March.

Have you selected your 2024 Medicare plan?
Maximize your Medicare savings by connecting with a licensed insurance agent. Annual Enrollment is open until December 7th.

How Do You Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage?

You can opt to switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage during open enrollment. While the federal government provides Original Medicare, private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans.

These plans typically vary regionally, so you will need to research the plans that are available in your area and choose the option that best suits your personal situation and finances. You will have to enroll with the insurance company that is offering the plan you are interested in.

Some plans may offer you the ability to enroll directly on their website while others require a phone call.

You can use the Medicare Plan Finder tool to locate plans near you.

Even though Medicare Advantage plans are provided privately, they must cover, at minimum, everything that is covered through Original Medicare. They often include expanded coverage or benefits as well, but you may have to receive care within a network.

Did You Know?
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins on Oct. 15 and lasts through Dec. 7.

How Do You Add Medigap to Original Medicare?

Medigap — which can help fill in some of the gaps and pay for some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — may work a little differently when it comes to open enrollment.

You have a separate open enrollment period for Medigap that begins the month after the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older.

That period lasts for six months and allows you to enroll in any Medigap policy regardless of whether you have pre-existing health conditions.

If you look to purchase a Medigap policy after those six months, there may not be as many options available to you, and you can be denied by the plan.

According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, you can get information on your Medigap options by calling your state insurance department or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

3 Minute Quiz: Can You Retire Comfortably?
Take our free quiz & match with a financial advisor in 3 easy steps.
Tailored to your goals. Near you or online.

How Do You Add Medicare Part D to Original Medicare?

If you are happy with Original Medicare, there are standalone prescription drug plans that you can purchase from private insurance companies to pair with Medicare.

Options for Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage
  • Enroll in a standalone Part D plan to pair with Original Medicare

The first thing that you should do is research the plans that are available to you and compare your options. Remember that these options may change each year so it can be beneficial to review plans even if you aren’t on the market for a new plan.

You can also use the Medicare Plan Finder to compare options and contact plan providers directly to get additional information.

How Do You Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap?

When going into open enrollment, know that a Medigap policy cannot be paired with Medicare Advantage. In fact, it is illegal for a company to sell you a supplement plan if you have Medicare Advantage.

It should also be noted that Medigap serves as supplement insurance, so it doesn’t actually replace Medicare Advantage.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan but want Medigap, then you would need to switch back to Original Medicare and then apply for supplement insurance.

According to CMS, you will need to contact your Medicare Advantage plan to disenroll. If you had joined Medicare Advantage for the first time and are not happy with it, then you will have a trial right to get a Medigap policy after switching back to Original Medicare if you do so within 12 months of joining the Medicare Advantage plan.

If you do not have a trial right, you may struggle to get a Medigap policy since providers are able to deny you at that point.

Last Modified: May 8, 2023

5 Cited Research Articles

  1. National Council on Aging. (2021, March 2). Switching Medicare Plans. Retrieved from https://ncoa.org/article/switching-medicare-plans
  2. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). How To Get Prescription Drug Coverage. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/how-to-get-prescription-drug-coverage
  3. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Joining a Health or Drug Plan. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/joining-a-health-or-drug-plan
  4. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/whats-medicare-supplement-insurance-medigap/medigap-medicare-advantage-plans
  5. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). 4 Steps To Buy a Medigap Policy. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/when-can-i-buy-medigap/4-steps-to-buy-a-medigap-policy