Switching Plans

When you’re allowed to switch

You can’t change Medicare plans whenever you feel like it — switches are tied to specific windows. These are the ones that matter.

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), October 15 – December 7: the big one. Switch Medicare Advantage plans, move between Original Medicare and Advantage, or change your Part D drug plan. Changes take effect January 1.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA-OEP), January 1 – March 31: if you’re already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one move — to a different Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan.
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): life events open a window outside the normal dates — moving out of your plan’s service area, losing other coverage, or qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help.
• Medigap is different: you can apply to switch a Medicare Supplement any time of year, but outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window most Ohio carriers can medically underwrite you — so approval isn’t guaranteed.

What to compare before you switch

• Your doctors and hospitals: confirm they’re in-network on the new plan before you move — networks change every year.
• Your prescriptions: check each drug against the new plan’s formulary and tier. The cheapest premium can hide the most expensive drug coverage.
• Total cost, not just premium: weigh the premium against the deductible, copays, and out-of-pocket maximum for how you actually use care.
• Extra benefits: dental, vision, hearing, and gym benefits vary widely between Medicare Advantage plans.

How the switch actually works

• Enroll in the new plan during a valid window — enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan automatically disenrolls you from the old one, so you don’t cancel anything yourself.
• Get written confirmation from the new plan, and watch for your new ID card.
• Confirm your doctors and pharmacy accept the new plan before the old coverage ends.
• Going from Advantage back to Original Medicare? You’ll likely want a Part D drug plan, and possibly a Medigap policy — but Medigap may require medical underwriting, so line it up before you drop Advantage.