Can I drop my Medicare Part D plan and change to a Medicare Advantage plan?
Changing Medicare Part D plans · updated Dec 17, 2024
Selecting a Medicare plan during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
If you are newly eligible for Medicare, and in your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), then you have one opportunity to join a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan. Your chosen Medicare plan will begin the first day of the month of Medicare eligibility or the first day of the month after enrollment if you enroll into a plan after the start of your eligibility month.
For example, if you are eligible for Medicare starting on August 1st, you can enroll into a Medicare Part D plan during May, June, or July with coverage beginning August 1st. However, if you enroll into a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan in August, September, October, or November, then coverage will begin on the first day of the month after enrollment. In our example, your coverage will continue through December and you will have an opportunity during the OEP to change your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan for the following year.
Changing plans during the annual Open Enrollment Period
If you are within the annual Open Enrollment Period -- often called OEP or AEP -- you are allowed to choose another Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan starting October 15th through the December 7th deadline. When you enroll in a different Medicare plan, your existing Medicare plan will be automatically replaced with your new plan selection. Coverage for any Medicare plan chosen during the OEP will begin on January 1st of the next year. If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you can still add Medicare plan coverage during the OEP.
Changing or dropping Medicare Advantage plans using the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP)
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) to change your Medicare Advantage plan or to drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare Part A and Part B - and you will have the opportunity to select a stand alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP). The MA-OEP begins on January 1 and continues through March 31, with plan changes taking effect on the first day of the month following the plan change. Note that you cannot use the MA-OEP to change your Medicare Part D plan (PDP) or drop your Part D plan and join a Medicare Advantage plan.
Changing Medicare plans using an Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
You are also able to change your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan outside the fall OEP, MA-OEP, or your IEP if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). SEPs are not automatically granted, instead you must meet one of the specific situations to take advantage of an SEP.
For instance, you are granted a Special Enrollment Period if you move outside of your plan's service area, lose your Medicare plan coverage through no fault of your own, are enrolled in a low-performing Medicare plan, wish to join a 5-star Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, or a number of other reasons.
You can click here to read more about some other popular Special Enrollment Periods.
What Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans are available in your area?
You can review your Medicare Part D plan options using our Part D Plan Finder: PDP-Finder.com and or Medicare Advantage Plan Finder: MA-Finder.com. To compare coverage for your medications, go to on this site. Or, you can review the formulary (drug list) for any stand-alone Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) using Formulary-Browser.com.
You can also find the "Browse Formulary" link on the results list within our Medicare Part D Plan Finder (PDP-Finder.com/CA) or the Medicare Advantage Plan Finder (MA-Finder.com/90210).