I'm choosing a plan
I picked the wrong Medicare plan — can I still switch?
Photo: Vitaly Gariev / Pexels
Often, yes. From January 1 to March 31 you can make one switch out of a Medicare Advantage plan. Outside that, a Special Enrollment Period may let you change; check your situation on Medicare.gov.
What to do
- Check which plan you have: a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or Original Medicare with a separate Part D drug plan.
- Use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31, to move to another Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with a drug plan; one change is allowed.
- Look for a Special Enrollment Period if you moved, moved into or out of a nursing home, lost other coverage, qualify for Extra Help or Medicaid, or were misled when you enrolled.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your SHIP counselor, explain what went wrong, and ask which period applies and what the last day is.
- Ask about Medigap before you leave an Advantage plan, because outside your first six months of Part B a Medigap insurer can usually ask health questions and may say no.
What to say
I enrolled in the wrong plan. Which enrollment period or Special Enrollment Period applies to me right now, and what is the last day I can make the change?
Say this to 1-800-MEDICARE or a SHIP counselor. Write down the date and the name of the person.
What to watch out for
This is a sensitive stepSmall details here can change the outcome, and some mistakes are hard to undo. We highly recommend a free 15-minute call with us before you decide.
Waiting. Once the January-to-March window closes, most people can't change again until fall Open Enrollment, and that change only starts January 1. That can mean many more months in the wrong plan.
Better done together
We’re here to help
If you think you picked the wrong plan, call us. There are certain circumstances where a change may be possible, and beneficial, even outside the usual windows, and some of them are decided case by case.
We'll look at your situation with you, work out which changes may be open to you, and prepare what to ask Medicare or your SHIP counselor, so you make the call once and make it count.
Every situation is different, and these are sensitive moments, so we look at yours with care. We often see what others miss, and we never take commissions from insurance companies: the only thing we are working for is what is right for you.
Free · 15 minutes · No pressure
The rule behind it
Medicare's enrollment rules set when you can change plans: Annual Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) for anyone, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) for one switch out of an Advantage plan, and Special Enrollment Periods for life events like moving or losing coverage. Medicare can also grant a special period if you enrolled because of misleading marketing or a federal error. Medigap has its own rules: the six-month open enrollment with no health questions is tied to when Part B starts, and some states add more protections.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Joining a plan (enrollment periods)
- Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods
- Medicare.gov — Understanding MA & Drug Plan Enrollment Periods (fact sheet)
- Medicare.gov — When can I buy a Medigap policy?
Amanda Alcodia
Education, not medical, legal or insurance advice.
Useful next steps
Start with the free Kit. If your situation needs a person, the intro call is free too.