Here's the short answer. If a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare drug plan, or Medicare Cost Plan with an overall 5-star quality rating is available in your area, you can use the 5-star Special Enrollment Period to switch into it from your current Medicare plan — one time, any time between December 8 of the year before the plan year and November 30 of the plan year. That's a much wider window than the Annual Enrollment Period, and it exists specifically to let you move toward the best-rated coverage without waiting for the next AEP.
How the window works
- Start date: December 8 of the year before the plan year.
- End date: November 30 of the plan year.
- Use it once: you can switch one time during that period.
Star ratings for the upcoming plan year are typically released each fall, so plans that earn 5 stars can change from year to year. Our Star Ratings & Quality page explains how CMS calculates the rating.
What you can switch into
You can use this SEP to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, a Medicare Cost Plan, or a Medicare drug plan that has an overall quality rating of 5 stars — as long as one is offered where you live. Not every county has a 5-star option every year, since few plans reach that top rating. Use Medicare's Plan Finder to check what's available in your area for the current plan year.
Two things to check before you switch
- Confirm your drugs are covered. If you switch to a 5-star drug plan, make sure it's actually offered where you live, since not every area has one.
- Watch for a drug-coverage gap. If you move from a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage into a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan that doesn't, you could lose drug coverage until your next enrollment chance — and you may owe a Part D late enrollment penalty.
Also confirm your doctors and hospitals are in the new plan's network, and compare total costs, not just the star rating. Using Plan Finder walks through comparing plans side by side.
How this differs from other enrollment windows
The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) lets you make any plan change, but only once a year on that fixed schedule. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31) lets current Medicare Advantage members make one change, but only among Medicare Advantage options. The 5-star SEP is different: it's available across most of the year, but it only lets you move toward a plan that earned the top quality rating. See Enrollment Calendar and Enrollment & Deadlines for how all these windows fit together.
Common questions
What is the 5-star Special Enrollment Period?
It's a one-time-per-year window that lets you switch into a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare drug plan, or Medicare Cost Plan that has an overall 5-star quality rating, if one is available where you live. It runs December 8 of the prior year through November 30 of the current plan year.
How many times can I use it?
Once during that window. It's a single-use Special Enrollment Period, separate from and in addition to the Annual Enrollment Period and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
Will a 5-star plan be available where I live?
Not necessarily. Few plans earn 5 stars, and availability varies by county and by year. Check Medicare's Plan Finder to see if one is offered in your area for the current plan year.
Could switching cost me my drug coverage?
Yes, if you move from a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage to a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan without it. You could lose drug coverage until your next enrollment opportunity and may owe a Part D late enrollment penalty. Check what the 5-star plan includes before switching.
Does using this SEP affect my Medigap guaranteed-issue rights?
Switching from Original Medicare with a Medigap policy into Medicare Advantage generally isn't protected the same way a Medigap-to-Medigap switch is. Check your state's rules and Medigap Plans before dropping a Medigap policy to join Medicare Advantage.