Joining a plan

You can only join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Medicare drug plan (Part D) at certain times, called enrollment periods.

Initial Enrollment Period
(new to Medicare)

Starts 3 months before you get Medicare and ends 3 months after you get Medicare.

You need both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) to join a Medicare Advantage Plan.
You need either Part A or Part B to join a Medicare drug plan.

Varies, depending on when the plan gets your request:

If you request to join a plan before your Medicare starts: Your plan coverage starts the same day as when your Medicare starts.
If you request to join a plan after your Medicare starts: Your plan coverage starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

Initial Enrollment Period – New to Part B
(only if you get Part B after your Part A coverage starts)

The 3 months before your Part B starts.

Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (or add or drop drug coverage).
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.
Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
(only if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan)

January 1-March 31.
Within the first 3 months you get Medicare .

Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.
Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. You'll also be able to join a separate Medicare drug plan.

Generally, you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or Medicare drug plan, or switch to another plan.

Starting January 1, 2024, if you sign up for Part A and/or Part B during a Special Enrollment Period because of an exceptional situation, you’ll have 2 months to join a plan or switch to another plan.

Other times when you can join a health or drug plan.

If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a drug plan) within the first 3 months you have Medicare Part A & Part B.