Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: How to Switch Plans Between Jan 1 and Mar 31
If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and realize it may not fit your needs, you may have another opportunity to make a change after the fall enrollment season. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs from January 1 through March 31.
During this window, you can make one plan change. The January 1 through March 31 dates are set by federal law and apply every year, including 2027. We can help you review your options, understand what a change means for your doctors and prescriptions, and take the next step with more confidence.
What Is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?
The MA OEP is for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, including a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD). It is not a general enrollment period for everyone with Medicare.
During the window, you may make one of these changes:
- Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without prescription drug coverage.
- Leave Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare. If you leave an MA-PD plan, you can also enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
A change generally takes effect on the first day of the month after the plan receives your request. For example, a request received in January would generally take effect February 1. If you’re considering a change, check the plan’s confirmation for your specific effective date.
What the MA OEP Does Not Let You Do
The MA OEP has a specific purpose and a one-change limit. If you have Original Medicare, you generally can’t use this period to join a Medicare Advantage plan. It also isn’t a time to switch from one standalone Part D plan to another.
And importantly, the MA OEP is not a Medigap enrollment window. Returning to Original Medicare does not automatically give you the right to buy a Medigap policy without health questions.
Know Your Medigap Rights
Your one-time federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally begins when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It lasts six months. During that period, you have important protections when buying a Medigap policy.
There are also special “trial rights” for some people who leave Medicare Advantage within their first year. Depending on your circumstances, you may have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap coverage, for example, if you joined Medicare Advantage when first eligible at age 65, or if you dropped a Medigap policy to try Medicare Advantage for the first time and are returning within the applicable trial period.
If you return to Original Medicare during January, February, or March outside a qualifying guaranteed-issue situation, an insurer may be able to use medical underwriting when you apply for Medigap. That could affect whether you can get a policy or what it costs. State protections may differ, so review your rights before you disenroll.
Learn how Medigap works on Medicare.gov, and confirm your situation before making a change.
MA OEP vs. Fall Open Enrollment
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, and the 2026 window applies to 2027 coverage. During AEP, people can make a broader range of Medicare coverage changes for the next year, including switching Medicare Advantage plans, moving between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and changing Part D coverage. Changes made during AEP generally take effect January 1.
The MA OEP follows AEP, but it is narrower: it is only for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, and it allows only one plan change. It can be useful if you learn after the new year begins that your plan’s network, costs, or drug coverage don’t work for you.
| Key date | What it means |
|---|---|
| October 15–December 7 | Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) |
| January 1–March 31 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period for current MA enrollees |
| First day of the month after your request is received | General effective-date rule for an MA OEP change |
2027 timing note: The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period dates of January 1 through March 31 are set by federal law. Any 2027 cost, premium or formulary figures in this article are projections pending CMS confirmation. Check Medicare.gov for current official information.
What to Check Before You Switch
A plan’s monthly premium is only one part of the picture. Take time to compare the coverage you use and the costs you may pay over the year.
1. Doctors, Hospitals, and Other Providers
Check whether your primary care provider, specialists, preferred hospitals, and other important providers are in the new plan’s network. Confirm directly with the provider as well as with the plan, since network information can change.
2. Prescription Coverage
Review every medication against the plan’s 2027 formulary (formularies and drug costs can change each plan year; confirm details with the plan). Look at the drug’s tier, what you’ll pay at your pharmacy, and whether the plan requires prior authorization or step therapy. Also check whether your preferred pharmacy is in-network or preferred.
3. Your Total Costs
Compare more than the monthly premium. Consider deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, prescription costs, and the plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum. Think about how you typically use care, not just the best-case scenario.
4. Changes to Your Current Plan
Read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and Evidence of Coverage (EOC). These documents explain what is changing for the new year, including benefits, costs, coverage rules, and networks. If something is unclear, ask the plan or a licensed agent to walk through it with you.
A Simple Switching Checklist
Use these steps to make your review more manageable:
- Confirm you’re eligible for the MA OEP. You must already be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Decide what you need to change. Are you looking for a different Medicare Advantage plan, or are you considering returning to Original Medicare?
- Gather your information. Make a list of your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, preferred pharmacies, and regular health services.
- Compare available plans. Use Medicare Plan Compare to review choices in your area.
- Check networks, drug rules, and total costs. Don’t rely on the premium alone.
- If returning to Original Medicare, review Medigap first. Find out whether you have a guaranteed-issue right or whether medical underwriting may apply. If you leave an MA-PD plan and need drug coverage, consider a standalone Part D plan.
- Submit your enrollment request and confirm the effective date. Keep a copy of your confirmation and follow up if you don’t receive one.
You only get one MA OEP change, so take a moment to review your choices before submitting the request. A local agent or local broker can help you compare available options based on your situation. Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC offers free consultations by phone, video or in person, helping clients since 2008. We’ll listen to your questions, review your current coverage, and help you understand the choices available.
Get Help Reviewing Your Options
Medicare plan details can feel like a lot to sort through, especially when your doctors, prescriptions, and budget all matter. We can help you take it one step at a time. Visit Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC to learn more or request a conversation.
Important disclosure: Fidelity Insurance Group, LLC represents 8 Medicare-related organizations offering 52 products in your area. Availability varies by location. Not all plans may be available to every person. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for official Medicare information.