Medicare.gov

Joining a plan

Once you have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Part B (Medical Insurance) , you can choose a Medicare health or drug plan that best fits your needs. Use this page to understand if you can join a Medicare health or drug plan, when, and how.

Am I eligible?

To join a Medicare health plan or drug plan, you generally must:

Have Medicare Part A and/or Part B.

Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a Cuban-Haitian entrant, or lawfully living in the U.S. as a Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant.

Live in the service area of the plan you want to join.

Have your Medicare Number and your Part A and/or Part B coverage start dates. Find this information on your Medicare card.

When can I join?

You can only join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) with or without drug coverage, other Medicare health plan , or Medicare drug plan at certain times, called enrollment periods.

Initial Enrollment Period

Generally when you turn 65.

It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) , or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). Learn more about when you can sign up in these situations.

You can join any plan, but you need:

  • Both Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.
  • Either Part A or Part B to join a Medicare drug plan.

When your coverage starts:

  • If you request to join a plan before your Part A and/or Part B starts: Your plan coverage starts the same day as when your Part A and/or Part B starts.
  • If you request to join a plan after your Part A and/or Part B starts: Your plan coverage starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

Initial Enrollment Period – New to Part B

If you have Part A and are adding Part B later. 

Starts 3 months before the month you’re first eligible for both Part A and Part B. You’ll have 2 months after you get both Part A and Part B for the first time to join a plan.

You can:

Join any Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.

Coverage starts:

Generally, the first of the month after the plan gets your request to join.

If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a drug plan) within the first 3 months you have Medicare Part A and Part B. 

Other enrollment periods

Enrollment period:

You can: 

Coverage starts:

Open Enrollment Period
October 15-December 7
  • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage).
  • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.
  • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare.
January 1 of the next year (the plan must get your request to join by December 7)

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
(only if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan)

  • January 1-March 31
  • Within the first 3 months you get Medicare
  • Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.
  • Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare.  You'll also be able to join a separate Medicare drug plan.
     
First of the month after the plan gets your request to join.

Special Enrollment Period

Varies. Only for certain situations that happen in your life, like moving to a new address, losing or changing your current coverage, getting Medicaid , or getting Extra Help to pay drug costs. Learn more about Special Enrollment Periods. 

Depending on your situation:

  • Join a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or Medicare drug plan
  • Switch to another plan

If you sign up for Part A and/or Part B during a Special Enrollment Period because of an exceptional situation, you’ll have 2 months to join a plan or switch to another plan. What counts as an exceptional situation?

Varies. Generally, the first of the month after the plan gets your request to join.

Other times when you can join a health or drug plan.  

For details about when you can join Medicare Cost Plans, demonstrations/pilot programs, or the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), contact the plans that offer these options. 
 

How do I join a plan?

To join a Medicare health or drug plan, you generally must:

1

Find out which plans are available in your area:

  • Compare plans in your area— find out what they cost and services they provide. Add all the prescription drugs you take regularly to get the most accurate monthly and yearly cost estimate for each plan.
  • Use your “Medicare & You” handbook to find plans — they’re listed in the back of the handbook.
  • Talk to a trusted agent or broker — check the rules they have to follow. 

Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get free personalized health insurance counseling. SHIPs aren’t connected to any insurance company or health plan.

2

Make sure the plan meets your needs:

  • Check if the plan covers your prescriptions and includes the benefits you need.
  • Ask your doctors and pharmacies if they’re in network with the plan.
  • Review costs, like monthly premiums , deductibles , and the estimate of your yearly costs for drugs you take.
  • If you have other health insurance or drug coverage, talk to your benefits administrator or other insurance provider before you join a plan or make any changes to your current coverage.
  • If you live in another state for part of the year, check if the plan will cover you there.
3

Join the plan.

Once you choose a plan, here are 3 ways you can join:

  • Select “Enroll” for the plan you want to join at Medicare.gov/plan-compare.
  • Contact the plan to join. You can call them, or visit their website. You can also ask for a paper form to fill out and mail back to the plan, but they must get it before your enrollment period ends.
  • Call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

Find out how to switch, drop, or rejoin drug coverage.

Learn more about Medicare health plans and drug plans.

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