You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan during two windows each year: the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). Outside a qualifying life event, these are the only times a plan-to-plan switch is allowed. Before you switch, confirm your doctors are in the new plan's network and your prescriptions are on its drug formulary, since both can change year to year even if the plan name stays the same.
This guide covers the two enrollment windows for moving between Medicare Advantage plans, what carries over and what does not, the exact steps to make the switch, and the checks worth doing before you sign up for a new plan. If you are instead considering leaving Medicare Advantage entirely and going back to Original Medicare, see our guide on switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, which covers Medigap rights and disenrollment steps in more detail.
The Two Windows for Switching Medicare Advantage Plans
Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7
The Annual Enrollment Period, sometimes called AEP or the Medicare Fall Open Enrollment, is the main window for changing Medicare Advantage plans. It runs every year from October 15 to December 7. During AEP you can:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
- Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
- Join, drop, or switch a standalone Part D prescription drug plan
Anyone with Medicare can use this window, not just people already on Medicare Advantage. Any change you make during AEP takes effect January 1 of the following year, regardless of whether you make the change on October 15 or December 7.
You are also allowed to change your mind more than once during AEP. If you enroll in a new plan on October 20 and find something better on November 25, you can switch again. Medicare only counts the last enrollment received before the December 7 deadline.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, often shortened to MA OEP, is a second window open only to people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. It runs January 1 through March 31 every year. Unlike AEP, you get exactly one change during this window. You can use it to:
- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage)
- Drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare, adding a standalone Part D plan if you want drug coverage
You cannot use MA OEP to switch from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, and you cannot use it to switch standalone Part D plans while staying on Original Medicare. It is a Medicare Advantage-specific window with a single move allowed.
Changes made during MA OEP take effect the first day of the month after Medicare receives your request. Someone who switches plans in February will have new coverage starting March 1.
Special Enrollment Periods (any time)
Outside AEP and MA OEP, you can only switch plans if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Common SEP triggers include:
- Moving out of your current plan's service area
- Your Medicare Advantage plan leaving your county or exiting the market entirely
- Losing or gaining Medicaid or Extra Help (the Part D Low Income Subsidy)
- Entering or leaving a nursing home or other long-term care facility
- Being enrolled based on inaccurate provider directory information (a temporary SEP available for 2026 plan-year decisions, lasting three months after your plan's effective date)
- Qualifying for a 5-star plan SEP, which lets anyone switch into a Medicare-rated 5-star plan in their area once between December 8 and November 30 of the following year
If your plan is exiting your area for 2027, Medicare will notify you by mail and you automatically qualify for an SEP to pick a new plan.
What Carries Over and What Does Not
Understanding what changes when you switch plans helps you avoid surprises.
| Item | What happens when you switch |
|---|
| Deductible met this year | Resets to zero on your new plan's start date |
| Out-of-pocket spending toward the max | Resets to zero |
| Doctors and specialists | Only covered if they are in the new plan's network |
| Prescriptions | Only covered at your expected cost if they are on the new plan's formulary tier |
| Medicare Part B premium | Continues unchanged, since it is billed by Medicare, not your plan |
| Extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing, OTC allowance) | Vary by plan; the new plan may offer more, less, or different benefits |
| Star rating | Resets to whatever the new plan is currently rated |
The reset of your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum is the detail people miss most often. If you switch plans mid-year through a Special Enrollment Period, any spending you have already put toward your old plan's out-of-pocket limit does not transfer to the new plan.
Before You Switch: Three Checks to Run
1. Confirm your doctors are in-network
Medicare Advantage networks change every year, even for plans that keep the same name. A doctor who was in-network last year may not be this year, and a plan with a broad network in one county may have a narrow one in a neighboring county. Call the plan directly or use the plan's online provider directory, and confirm with your doctor's office separately since directories are not always current.
2. Check your drug formulary and tier
Look up each of your prescriptions on the new plan's drug formulary before switching. A drug can move to a higher tier, require prior authorization, or drop off the formulary entirely from one year to the next. Use the plan's published formulary document or Medicare's Plan Finder tool to check your specific medications and dosages, not just the drug name.
3. Compare total annual cost, not just the premium
A plan with a $0 premium is not automatically the cheapest option for you. Compare the plan's deductible, copays for the specialists and services you actually use, and out-of-pocket maximum. Someone who sees a specialist regularly or takes several brand-name drugs can end up paying more on a $0 premium plan with high copays than on a plan with a modest premium and lower cost-sharing.
Step-by-Step: How to Switch Medicare Advantage Plans
- Compare plans in your area. Use Medicare's Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to see every Medicare Advantage plan available in your ZIP code, along with star ratings, estimated annual costs, and covered drugs.
- Verify network and formulary for your top choices. Narrow to two or three plans and check that your specific doctors and prescriptions are covered, using the steps above.
- Enroll in the new plan. You can enroll online through Medicare.gov, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), by calling the new plan directly, or through a licensed insurance agent. Enrolling through Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE gives you a documented record if something goes wrong with the switch.
- Let the automatic disenrollment happen. You do not need to separately cancel your old Medicare Advantage plan. Enrolling in a new one automatically disenrolls you from the old plan effective the day your new coverage starts.
- Confirm your new plan's start date and get your new member ID card. Your new plan will mail you a welcome packet and ID card before your effective date. Do not use the old plan's card after your new coverage begins.
- Update your pharmacy and providers. Give your pharmacy your new plan information ahead of your first fill, and let your doctors' offices know before your next appointment so billing goes to the correct plan.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Switching based on premium alone. The lowest premium plan is not always the lowest total cost for your specific doctors and drugs.
- Assuming your doctor is still in-network because they were last year. Networks change annually. Always re-check.
- Missing the MA OEP one-change limit. If you use your one January through March switch and then decide you want to switch again, you are locked out until AEP unless you qualify for an SEP.
- Not checking formulary tiers for specialty or brand-name drugs. A drug can stay on the formulary but move to a much higher cost tier.
- Waiting until the last few days of AEP. Enrollment requests need time to process. Submitting close to December 7 leaves little room to fix errors before the January 1 effective date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans twice in one year?
Yes, but only in specific windows. During AEP (October 15 to December 7) you can switch as many times as you want, and only your final choice counts. During MA OEP (January 1 to March 31) you get exactly one switch. Outside those two windows, you need a Special Enrollment Period to switch again.
What happens to my deductible if I switch Medicare Advantage plans?
Your deductible and any spending toward your out-of-pocket maximum reset to zero when you start a new plan. This applies whether you switch during AEP, MA OEP, or a Special Enrollment Period.
Do I need to cancel my old Medicare Advantage plan myself?
No. Enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage plan automatically disenrolls you from your previous plan effective the day the new coverage begins. You do not need to send a separate cancellation notice.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan?
Not directly. To use a Medigap plan, you first need to switch back to Original Medicare, then apply for a Medigap policy separately. Medigap acceptance outside your initial enrollment window is not guaranteed in most states and may involve medical underwriting. Our guide on switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare covers Medigap guaranteed-issue rights in more detail.
What if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving my area for 2027?
If your plan exits your county or the market, Medicare will send you a non-renewal notice and you automatically qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, even outside AEP or MA OEP.
Is there a fee to switch Medicare Advantage plans?
No. Switching plans during an eligible enrollment window does not cost anything. Your only costs are the new plan's premium (if any), deductible, and cost-sharing once your new coverage begins.
How long does it take for a Medicare Advantage switch to take effect?
During AEP, changes take effect January 1 of the following year regardless of when in the window you enroll. During MA OEP, changes take effect the first day of the month after Medicare processes your request.
