When Can I Switch Medicare Plans?
May 20, 2026
Quick Answer: When You Can Change Medicare Plans
Most seniors change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15–Dec 7). The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1–Mar 31) gives Advantage members one extra change. Special Enrollment Periods open after qualifying life events like moving, losing employer coverage, or moving in/out of a nursing facility.
Real-world change scenarios
- I'm moving out of state — can I switch now?
- Yes. A permanent address change typically opens a Special Enrollment Period for Advantage and Part D.
- My doctor stopped accepting my plan mid-year. Can I switch?
- Usually no — provider changes alone don't trigger a SEP. You'd wait for AEP unless you also qualify for another exception.
- Can I change Medigap plans whenever I want?
- You can apply any time, but outside guaranteed-issue periods, insurers can use medical underwriting. Some states have more lenient rules.
- What if my plan ends its contract?
- CMS grants a SEP, and you may have guaranteed-issue rights to specific Medigap plans depending on what you had before.
- Can I switch back to Original Medicare anytime?
- From Advantage: only during AEP (Oct 15–Dec 7) or MA OEP (Jan 1–Mar 31), unless a SEP applies. Reattaching Medigap may require underwriting.
When can I switch Medicare plans?
You can only switch during specific windows. Knowing the dates means you do not get stuck in a plan that does not fit.
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Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
The 7 months around your 65th birthday: 3 months before, your birth month, and 3 months after. This is when most people first enroll.
See our Turning 65 timeline.
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
October 15 to December 7 each year. You can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Part D plans, or change Advantage plans. Changes take effect January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP)
January 1 to March 31 each year. If you are already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to a different Advantage plan or to Original Medicare with Part D. You cannot switch from Original to Advantage during this window.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEP)
You qualify for a SEP if you have a qualifying life event — moving, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, and a few others. These give you a limited window outside the standard enrollment periods.
Medigap Open Enrollment
A one-time 6-month window starting the month you are 65 and enrolled in Part B. During this window, Medicare Supplement carriers cannot deny you or charge more based on health. See our Original vs. Advantage comparison.
Related guides
More plain-language guides from Senior Plan Path.