Medicare Advantage enrollees have until March 31 to make certain coverage changes

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. Unlike the annual fall open enrollment period, this window is limited to those currently enrolled in MA (excluding those with health savings accounts, expense plans, and PACE). They can only make one change, either to a different MA plan or to original Medicare, with or without Part D coverage.

MA OEP changes will take effect on the first day of the following month. For example, if someone switches to a new MA plan in February, coverage will begin on March 1.

What changes are allowed?

As the Medicare interactive graphic below explains, people with an MA plan (with or without drug coverage) can switch to another MA plan (with or without drug coverage) or return to original Medicare and can choose to enroll in a separate Part D plan.

There is an important but rare limitation: MA enrollees with drug coverage through a stand-alone Part D plan can only switch to an MA plan that does not include drug coverage or Original Medicare; they cannot change Part D plans during the MA OEP. It is highly unusual for someone to have separate MA and Part D plans – the vast majority of MA plans (89%) include prescription drug coverage.

What about medical clearance?

Medigaps are health insurance policies that work with Original Medicare and pay some or all of certain remaining costs, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, after Original Medicare pays first. During certain federally protected periods, people can purchase Medigap. But outside of these protected times, companies can refuse to sell Medigap policies, impose certain medical requirements, charge higher monthly premiums and/or require a six-month waiting period before Medigap will cover pre-existing conditions.

People who want to leave their MA plan and enroll in Original Medicare should contact their state's Medigap insurance company to see if they can purchase a Medigap policy. You can also check with your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to learn about your state's regulations.

How to sign up for a new plan

The best way to enroll in a new plan is through the Medicare Plan Finder website or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Plan Finder can help you compare MA and prescription drug costs across plans in your area, taking into account the drugs you take and the pharmacy you use. To confirm program information you read online, call the program directly and always write down everything about the conversation, including the date, the name of the representative you spoke with, and any results.

Enrolling directly through these official Medicare platforms can protect you if you receive incorrect information from a Medicare source or encounter plan issues. In 2026, due to changes to plan information on Plan Finder, people who registered directly through the online platform will receive a special registration period if they relied on incorrectly listed network information. If you choose to contact the MA program directly to make changes, be sure to submit both your opt-out and enrollment requests to avoid errors.

Where to go for help

• Your local SHIP provides free, trained, one-on-one, impartial Medicare assistance. There are 54 ships (one for each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Visit www.shiphelp.org and click the orange “Find Local Medicare Help” button in the upper right corner to contact your SHIP.
• You can also access Medicare directly through the Medicare Plan Finder or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Medicare Rights can provide additional assistance to answer your questions and resolve issues you may have. Please call our national helpline at 800-333-4114.