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For Members & Caregivers

Switching Medicare Advantage Plans During Open Enrollment: What to Check First

Moving from one Medicare Advantage plan to another is the most common Open Enrollment move. Here's what to confirm before you do it.

Here's the short answer. To switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, just enroll in the new plan during Open Enrollment, October 15 through December 7, 2026. Your old plan ends automatically when the new one starts on January 1. Before you enroll, check five things:

You don't need a reason to switch. During this window, you can join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage plan for any reason, with or without drug coverage. You also don't need to cancel your old plan. It ends on its own once the new one begins.

Check 1: Read your Annual Notice of Change first

Before deciding you need to switch, read the Annual Notice of Change your current plan mailed by September 30. It tells you exactly what's different for 2027: premium, deductible, drug list, and network. If nothing important changed, switching may not be worth the effort. Did your costs rise? Was a drug dropped? Did your doctor leave the network? Any of these is a good reason to compare.

Check 2: Your specific drugs, on the new plan's formulary

A different Medicare Advantage plan can have a very different drug list, called a formulary, even if both plans look alike. Enter every prescription you take, with the dose, into Medicare Plan Finder before you switch. Check which tier each drug lands on. Also check whether the new plan requires prior authorization or step therapy. Your current plan might not have those rules. See our Plan Finder walkthrough and how to check a formulary before switching.

Check 3: Your doctors and hospitals, in the new plan's network

Medicare Advantage plans build their own provider networks. A doctor in-network with your current plan may not be in-network with the one you're considering. Call each doctor's office directly. Ask whether they're in the new plan's network and accepting new patients. Plan Finder's directory isn't always current.

Check 4: The total estimated yearly cost, not just the premium

Compare the total estimated cost Plan Finder works out for each plan. It adds up premium, deductible, copays, and coinsurance for a year, based on the drugs and pharmacy you enter. A lower premium on the new plan doesn't guarantee a lower total cost. See How to Compare Medicare Plans for 2027 for the full comparison order.

Check 5: Whether you'd be leaving other coverage behind

You may also have employer, union, or retiree coverage. If so, talk to that benefits office before switching Medicare Advantage plans. Joining a different Medicare Advantage plan can make you lose that other coverage. You may not be able to get it back.

If your current plan is leaving Medicare

Sometimes the "switch" isn't optional. Each year, an insurer can decide whether to keep offering a plan in your county. If your plan is leaving, you need to join another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. You can do this during Open Enrollment. Your plan's contract with Medicare may not be renewed. If so, you also get an extra window from December 8 through the last day of February. If you don't pick a new Medicare Advantage plan, you go into Original Medicare by default.

Switching to Original Medicare instead

Maybe you're thinking of leaving Medicare Advantage entirely, not moving to another Advantage plan. Then the steps and trade-offs are different. This is especially true when buying a Medigap policy afterward. See our separate guide: Switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.

How to actually make the switch

  1. Compare plans using Medicare Plan Finder with your drugs and pharmacy entered.
  2. Confirm your doctors are in-network with the new plan by calling their offices directly.
  3. Enroll in the new plan. You can enroll online through Plan Finder. You can contact the plan directly. You can mail a form that the plan must receive by December 7. Or you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).
  4. Don't cancel your old plan. It ends automatically when your new coverage starts January 1.

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased help. It isn't connected to any insurance company or plan.

Common questions

Do I need to cancel my old Medicare Advantage plan before switching?

No. When you enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan, your old plan ends automatically. You don't need to notify or cancel it yourself.

When does a plan switch made during Open Enrollment take effect?

January 1 of the following year, as long as the new plan receives your request by December 7.

Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans again after December 7 if I change my mind?

Yes, once. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 lets you switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and join a drug plan.

Official sources

Verify before you act. MediPrimer is general educational information and is not affiliated with any agency or insurer. This page does not recommend any plan. Confirm your specific plan's details with Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your SHIP.