How to cancel or switch Medicare Advantage.
Once enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can change or cancel during specific windows: AEP (Oct 15 - Dec 7), OEP (Jan 1 - Mar 31), or with a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Here's exactly how each works.
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
AEP runs October 15 through December 7 every year. During AEP, you can: switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, switch from MA back to Original Medicare (with or without Medigap), switch from one Part D plan to another, or add Part D for the first time. Changes made during AEP take effect January 1 of the following year.
Open Enrollment Period (OEP)
OEP runs January 1 through March 31 every year. During OEP, Medicare Advantage members can: switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (one switch only), or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. OEP cannot be used to switch from Original Medicare to MA, or from one Medigap plan to another. Changes take effect the first of the month after the election.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)
SEPs are triggered by life events: moving to a new service area, losing creditable employer coverage, becoming Medicaid-eligible, qualifying for Extra Help, your plan terminating its Medicare contract, or your plan losing its 5-Star rating. Each SEP has different rules and timeframes — most are 60 days from the qualifying event.
Returning to Original Medicare from MA
When you disenroll from Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare, you'll need: Part A and B (you may already have these), a Part D drug plan (separate enrollment required), and likely a Medigap plan (which may require medical underwriting outside of guaranteed-issue periods). Check your state's Medigap rules first — switching back to Medigap can be difficult.
Medigap underwriting after MA
Most states require medical underwriting if you apply for Medigap outside your initial 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (which started when you first enrolled in Part B at 65). If you've had MA for years and want Medigap back, you may be denied or charged higher premiums based on health. Birthday Rule states (CA, ID, MD, NV, OK, OR) and Anniversary states (MO) offer some annual Medigap switching protections.
Trial Right exception
If you enrolled in Medicare Advantage when you first became eligible for Medicare and disenroll within the first 12 months, you have a 'trial right' to return to Original Medicare and enroll in any Medigap plan with no medical underwriting. This is the safest way to test Medicare Advantage. After the 12-month trial right window, you may face underwriting in most states.
How to actually disenroll
Three ways: (1) Call your MA plan and request disenrollment (effective the first of the next month). (2) Call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask to disenroll. (3) Enroll in a different MA plan or in a Part D plan during a valid election period — Medicare will automatically disenroll you from your current MA. Option 3 is the most common during AEP.
Frequently asked questions
No. You can only cancel during specific windows: AEP (Oct 15 - Dec 7), OEP (Jan 1 - Mar 31), or with a qualifying Special Enrollment Period. During AEP and OEP, you can return to Original Medicare or switch to another MA plan.
Yes — during AEP or OEP, or with a qualifying SEP. Be aware: returning to Original Medicare without Medigap means you'll pay 20% of all costs with no out-of-pocket maximum. Most people add Medigap when returning to Original Medicare, but Medigap may require medical underwriting.
If you enrolled in Medicare Advantage when first eligible for Medicare, you have a 12-month 'trial right' to return to Original Medicare and enroll in any Medigap plan with no medical underwriting. After the 12-month window, you may face medical underwriting in most states.
No, there's no penalty for canceling MA. The risks are: (1) needing to enroll in Part D separately (which has its own enrollment windows), (2) potential medical underwriting if you want Medigap and you're past your initial Medigap Open Enrollment Period.
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