Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Dates & Rules

When is Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment?

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is January 1 through March 31 each year.

This period is different from the general Medicare Open Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 through December 7. The January to March period is narrower because it is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Who can use this enrollment period?

You can use Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, also called Part C.

If you have Original Medicare and are not already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, this period generally does not let you join a Medicare Advantage Plan. You may need to wait for another valid enrollment period unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

What can you change during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment?

If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can generally make one of these changes:

Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage.
Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare.
If you return to Original Medicare, join a separate Medicare Part D drug plan.

Original Medicare means Medicare Part A and Part B coverage managed by the federal government. Part D is Medicare prescription drug coverage, usually offered through private plans approved by Medicare.

What can you not do during this period?

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment has limits. During this period, people with Original Medicare generally cannot use it to switch into a Medicare Advantage Plan or join a Medicare drug plan.

You also generally cannot use this period to make repeated plan changes. Medicare materials state that you can make only one change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

When does the new coverage start?

If you make a valid change during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, the new coverage generally starts the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

For example, if a plan receives your enrollment request in February, the new coverage would generally begin March 1. Your specific effective date may depend on when the plan receives and processes the request.

What should you check before changing plans?

Before switching or returning to Original Medicare, review the details that affect how you use care:

Whether your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies participate in the plan network.
Whether your prescription drugs are covered and what cost-sharing applies.
Plan premiums, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket limits.
Whether you need referrals or prior authorization for certain services.

If you leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, consider whether you want a separate Part D plan. Also, buying a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy, called Medigap, may depend on your timing, state rules, and whether you have a guaranteed issue right.

Our Process

From First Meeting to Medicare Enrollment

We begin by helping you understand how Medicare works and how the different pieces fit together. We walk through Original Medicare, Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement insurance, and Part D prescription drug coverage, including how formularies, drug tiers, and plan rules can affect your costs.

We also explain dental, vision, and hearing coverage, along with other products that may help fill gaps in your healthcare plan. Depending on your needs, that may include short-term in-home healthcare coverage, hospital indemnity insurance, or coverage designed to provide additional financial support following a cancer diagnosis, heart attack, or stroke.

Once you understand the landscape, we move into the planning stage. That is when we review your doctors, hospitals, prescription drugs, current coverage, and other personal details so we can begin evaluating the Medicare plan options that fit your situation.

Discovery Meeting

We collect information about your doctors, hospitals, prescription drugs, current coverage, and other important details, then discuss your unique situation and priorities. Start your secure Medicare profile.

Create Your Strategy

We review the information gathered during discovery and develop a Medicare claiming and coverage strategy tailored to your circumstances.

Plan Enrollment

Once you are comfortable with the strategy, we help coordinate the appropriate enrollment steps and timing.

Annual Reviews

Medicare plans, costs, formularies, provider networks, and personal circumstances can change. We conduct annual reviews to help determine whether your current coverage still fits.

Request Medicare Planning Information

Official Sources

Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans
Verifies the January 1 through March 31 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, allowed changes, one-change limit, and effective date rules.
Open Enrollment | Medicare
Explains the general Medicare Open Enrollment Period and helps distinguish it from Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment.
Joining a plan | Medicare
Verifies that Medicare health and drug plan changes can be made only during certain enrollment periods and describes ways to join a plan.
Special Enrollment Periods | Medicare
Verifies that certain life events may allow Medicare Advantage or drug plan changes outside standard enrollment periods.
When can I buy a Medigap policy? | Medicare
Supports the caution that Medigap purchase rights may be limited outside a Medigap Open Enrollment Period or guaranteed issue situation.

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