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Sign Up for Parts C & D

There are specific times when you can sign up for Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), or make changes to coverage you already have.

Initial Enrollment Periods for Parts C & D


Your situation What can you do? When?

You're newly eligible for Medicare because you turn 65.

Sign up for a Medicare Advantage and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

During the 7-month period that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.

You're newly eligible for Medicare because you're disabled (under 65).

Sign up for a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Your Medicare coverage begins 24 months after you get Social Security or RRB disability benefits.

Starting 21 months after you get Social Security or RRB benefits. Your chance to sign up lasts through the 27th month after you get Social Security or RRB benefits.

You're already eligible for Medicare because of a disability, and you turn 65.
  • Sign up for a Medicare Advantage and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Switch from your current Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another plan.
  • Drop a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan completely.

During the 7-month period that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.

If you sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan during this time, you can drop that plan at any time during the next 12 months and go back to Original Medicare.

You DON'T have Medicare Part A coverage, and you enroll in Medicare Part B during the Part B General Enrollment Period (January 1-March 31).

Sign up for a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

April 1-June 30

You HAVE Medicare Part A coverage, and you enroll in Medicare Part B during the Part B General Enrollment Period (January 1-March 31).

Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage).

April 1-June 30

Yearly Enrollment Periods for Parts C & D

Every year, you have a chance to make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. There are two separate enrollment periods each year.

Enrollment Period What can you do? When?

Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage AND Medicare prescription drug coverage
  • Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
  • Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
  • Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
  • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
  • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage.
  • Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

October 15-December 7

Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period
  • If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare.
  • If you switch to Original Medicare during this period, you will have until February 14 to also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form.

What CAN'T You Do?

  • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
  • Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.
  • Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another.
  • Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan.

January 1-February 14


Special Enrollment Periods

You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, such as if you move or you lose other insurance coverage. These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Rules about when you can make changes and the type of changes you can make are different for each SEP.

Changes in where you live
Your situation What can you do? When?

You move to a new address that isn't in your plan's service area.

Switch to a new Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

If you tell your plan before you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month before the month you move and continues for 2 full months after you move.

If you tell your plan after you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month you tell your plan, plus 2 more full months.

You move to a new address that is still in your plan's service area, but you have new plan options in your new location.

You move back to the United States after living outside the country.

Join a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month you move back to the U.S.

You just moved into, currently live in, or just moved out of an institution (such as a skilled nursing facility or long-term care hospital).
  • Join a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Switch from your current plan to another Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare.
  • Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Your chance to join, switch, or drop coverage lasts as long as you live in the institution and for 2 full months after the month you move out of the institution.

You're released from jail.

Join a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month you're released from jail.

 

Changes that cause you to lose your current coverage
Your situation What can you do? When?

You're no longer eligible for Medicaid.
  • Join a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Switch from your current plan to another Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan, and return to Original Medicare.
  • Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Your chance to change lasts for 2 full months after the month you find out you're no longer eligible for Medicaid.

If you lose your coverage for the following year, your chance to change is between January 1-March 31.

You leave coverage from your employer or union (including COBRA coverage).

Join a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month your coverage ends.

You involuntarily lose other drug coverage that is as good as Medicare drug coverage (creditable coverage), or your other coverage changes and is no longer creditable.

Join a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month you lose your creditable coverage or you're notified of the loss of creditable coverage, whichever is later.

You have drug coverage through a Medicare Cost Plan and you leave the plan.

Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month you drop your Medicare Cost Plan.

You drop your coverage in a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) plan.

Join a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month you drop your PACE plan.


Chances to get other coverage
Your situation What can you do? When?

You have a chance to enroll in other coverage offered by your employer or union.

Drop your current Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to enroll in the private plan offered by your employer or union.

Whenever your employer or union allows you to make changes in your plan.

You have or are enrolling in other drug coverage as good as Medicare prescription drug coverage (such as TRICARE or VA coverage).

Drop your current Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage or your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Anytime

You enroll in a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) plan.

Drop your current Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Anytime


Changes in your plan's contract with Medicare
Your situation What can you do? When?

Medicare takes an official action (called a "sanction") because of a problem with the plan that affects you.

Switch from your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another plan.

Your chance to switch is determined by Medicare on a case-by-case basis.

Medicare ends (terminates) your plan's contract.

Switch from your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another plan.

Your chance to switch lasts until 1 full month after Medicare ends the plan's contract.

Your Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or Medicare Cost Plan's contract with Medicare isn't renewed.

Join another Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

October 1-January 31


Changes due to other special situations
Your situation What can you do? When?

You're eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Anytime

You qualify for Extra Help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Join, switch, or drop Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Anytime

You're enrolled in a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP).

Join either a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage.

Once during the calendar year.

You dropped a Medigap policy the first time you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and enroll in Original Medicare.

Your chance to drop your Medicare Advantage Plan lasts for 12 months after you join the Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time.

You have a severe or disabling condition, and there is a Medicare Chronic Care Special Needs Plan (SNP) available that serves people with your condition.

Join a Medicare Chronic Care Special Needs Plan (SNP).

You can join anytime, but once you join, your chance to make changes using this SEP ends.

You're enrolled in a Special Needs Plan (SNP) and no longer have a condition that qualifies as a special need that the plan serves.

Switch from your Special Needs Plan (SNP) to a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

You can choose a new plan starting from the time you lose your special needs status, up to 3 months after your SNP's grace period ends.

You joined a plan, or chose not to join a plan, due to an error by a Federal employee.
  • Join a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Switch from your current plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
  • Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage and return to Original Medicare.
  • Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Your chance to change coverage lasts for 2 full months after the month you get a notice of the error from Medicare.

You weren't properly told that your other private drug coverage wasn't as good as Medicare drug coverage (creditable coverage).

Join a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month you get a notice of the error from Medicare.

You weren't properly told that you were losing private drug coverage that was as good as Medicare drug coverage (creditable coverage).

Join a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Your chance to join lasts for 2 full months after the month you get a notice of the error from Medicare.

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