Medicare Enrollment Dates & Penalties
The dates, deadlines, and penalties information below gives you a guide on when you can change your plan. You can learn more about becoming eligible for Medicare and your initial enrollment period here.
October 15 - December 7: Annual Enrollment Period
Coverage begins January 1
If you already have Medicare, this is the one time of year when you can make changes for the next year. You can:
Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage.
Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.
January 1–March 31: Open Enrollment Period
If you already receive Medicare and you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), this enrollment period allows you can make one change to a different plan or switch back to Original Medicare (and join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan) once during this time.
Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan receives your request. If you’re enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), the new open enrollment period doesn’t apply to you.
During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans.
Or, if you decide Medicare Advantage isn’t the best choice for you, you can drop your Medicare Advantage coverage and go back to in Original Medicare.
You can also make changes to your Part D prescription drug coverage in certain situations:
If you have Medicare Advantage without prescription drug coverage, and you switch to a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan.
If you drop Medicare Advantage altogether, and go back to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You can then enroll in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan during this open enrollment period.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, like if you move or you lose other insurance coverage. These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Rules about when you can make changes and the type of changes you can make are different for each SEP. Below are just a few of the life events that qualify you to make a change.
You had a loss of qualifying health care coverage through your job. COBRA coverage and retiree health plans aren’t considered creditable coverage. You will not be entitled to a Special Enrollment Period when it ends.
You moved to a new area or state
You joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible for Medicare,
Or, within the first 12 months you decided to switch back to Original Medicare.
General Medicare Enrollment Period
If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up during Medicare’s General Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31), and your coverage will start July 1.