How To Switch Plans

Medicare rules are different depending what type of plan you are switching. In general, you must live in the service area of the plan and be enrolled in Medicare part A & B.

Open Enrollment

This occurs for 6 months after you have signed up for Medicare Part B. During this time you are guaranteed insurable, which means that you can sign up for any Medigap plan and that plan must accept you with no health questions. For prescription plans (part D) this open enrollment last three months prior to and three months after you sign up for Medicare part B. If you do not sign up for the prescription plan at that time there may be a penalty for signing up at a future date.

Switching to another Medigap Plan

If you are outside of the open enrollment period, than the new plan may ask you health questions and can reject your application. Although, once you a accepted in a plan it is guaranteed renewable.

Medicare Prescription

You can usually enroll in a new plan or switch your existing plan between November 15th, and December 31st for the new year and are signed up for the full year. Keep in mind if enrolling for the first time a penalty may apply.

Medicare Advantage

In general, you can join when you first enroll in medicare part B just like the prescription plan. However, you may have two other opportunities. During November 15th through December 31st you may enroll for the first time in a Medicare Advantage or switch your existing plan for the new year. In addition, from January 1st through March 31st you may also enroll or switch plans provided you don’t change your prescription coverage.

Special Elections

These a circumstance which you may be offered a guaranteed in enrollment in any plan in your area. These are determined by Medicare guidelines and here are some examples:

Moving outside your current plans service area
Losing your employer coverage
Becoming eligible for Medicare prescription assistance
Returning to United States after living abroad
Special determination from Medicare

These are just some of the examples and are subject to change according to Medicare rules and regulations.

To talk with a specialist about your circumstance call us and we can help you determine when you can switch plans and what types of plans are available or click here for a customized quote