The short answer
The Annual Enrollment Period each fall (roughly mid-October to early December) is when you can switch Medicare Advantage plans for the coming year. Switching is straightforward: you enroll in the new plan, and that automatically disenrolls you from the old one. The work is in comparing well so the new plan is genuinely better for you.
Because plans change every year, the best plan for you can change too — which is why a yearly review is worth the hour it takes.
The comparison checklist
Before switching, check four things on any plan you're considering: are your doctors and hospitals in network, are your prescriptions on the drug list at a good cost, what are the copays for the care you actually use, and what is the out-of-pocket maximum. Then weigh the extras — dental, vision, fitness — as tiebreakers.
Also re-read your current plan's Annual Notice of Change, which spells out what's different next year; sometimes the plan you have changes enough to prompt a switch. Our side-by-side plan comparison helps you line options up.
How to make the switch
Once you've chosen, enroll in the new plan during the Annual Enrollment Period; enrolling disenrolls you from your old plan automatically, and coverage starts January 1. Confirm your enrollment and watch for the new plan's cards.
Keep in mind there's also an early-year Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period for one more change if needed, and a 5-star plan may be available through a special enrollment period — our guide to the 5-star special enrollment period explains that option.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I switch Medicare Advantage plans?
During the fall Annual Enrollment Period (about mid-October to early December) for coverage starting January 1. There's also an early-year Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period for one additional change.
How do I switch Medicare Advantage plans?
Enroll in the new plan during the enrollment window — that automatically disenrolls you from your old plan. Coverage on the new plan begins January 1.
What should I compare before switching?
Your doctors' network status, your prescriptions on the drug list, the copays for care you use, and the out-of-pocket maximum. Treat extra benefits as tiebreakers.
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