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Switching From Medicare Advantage: How and When You Can

You can leave a Medicare Advantage plan, but only during certain windows, and moving back to Original Medicare usually means adding a Part D drug plan and, often, a Medigap policy. This page explains the windows to switch, what to line up so you do not create a gap, and the one Medigap rule that trips people up. If your plan sent you a letter, we can explain exactly what it means, for free.

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The windows to leave a Medicare Advantage plan

You cannot switch at just any time. There are three main windows, and which one applies changes what you are allowed to do.

1. Annual Election Period

October 15 to December 7 every year. You can change your Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage, or drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare. Changes take effect January 1.

2. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

January 1 to March 31. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to one other Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D drug plan. You get to use this window one time.

3. Special Enrollment Period, if your plan is terminating

If your plan is ending or leaving your area, you generally get a Special Enrollment Period, usually December 8 to the end of February, to pick another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. This also matters for Medigap, as explained below.

Returning to Original Medicare: what to line up

Switching back to Original Medicare is not just one decision. To avoid gaps and surprise costs, most people add two things at the same time.

A standalone Part D drug plan, so you keep drug coverage and avoid a late penalty (more on that below).
For predictable costs, a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. Original Medicare by itself has no yearly out-of-pocket maximum, so many people add Medigap to cap their exposure.

The order matters. Timing your Part D and Medigap so they start when your Medicare Advantage coverage ends is what prevents a gap and a penalty. Do not drop your current coverage until the replacement pieces are in place.

The Medigap catch: guaranteed issue vs medical underwriting

This is the part people miss. Outside of a guaranteed-issue window, a Medigap insurer can use medical underwriting, which means it can deny you a policy or charge you more based on your health. You are not always guaranteed a Medigap policy just because you are leaving Medicare Advantage.

You have guaranteed issue, with no health review, only in specific situations, including:

When your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or you involuntarily lose coverage, usually if you act within 63 days.
Under a trial right: if you joined Medicare Advantage when you were first eligible for Medicare and you switch back to Original Medicare within 12 months.

If you switch outside one of these windows, you may still get Medigap, but the insurer can review your health first. Knowing which situation you are in before you drop your plan is important, because you cannot always undo the move.

Do not skip Part D, or you can get a permanent penalty

Going 63 or more days without creditable drug coverage can trigger a permanent Part D late enrollment penalty that is added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. That is why you should line up a standalone Part D drug plan at the same time you switch back to Original Medicare, so there is no gap.

Not sure what your Medicare letter means?

If your plan sent you a notice, whether it is ending, changing, or asking you to act, upload it and we will explain it in plain language, for free. CareRoute is independent, does not sell insurance, and takes no commissions, so the explanation is about your situation, not a sales pitch.

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Want help comparing coverage against your own doctors and drugs? See Medicare Decision Support. We do not recommend a specific plan or insurer.

Frequently asked questions

When can I leave my Medicare Advantage plan?

There are three main windows. The Annual Election Period runs October 15 to December 7, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31, when someone already in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to one other Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D drug plan, one time. If your plan is terminating or leaving your area, a Special Enrollment Period generally runs December 8 to the end of February.

My Medicare Advantage plan is being terminated. What are my options?

When a plan is ending or leaving your area, you generally get a Special Enrollment Period, usually December 8 to the end of February, to pick another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. Losing your plan involuntarily this way is also one of the situations that give you a guaranteed-issue right to buy a Medigap policy without medical underwriting, typically within 63 days.

If I go back to Original Medicare, what else do I need?

Returning to Original Medicare usually means adding a standalone Part D drug plan so you have drug coverage and avoid a late penalty, and, for more predictable costs, a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. Original Medicare on its own has no yearly out-of-pocket maximum, which is one reason many people add a Medigap policy.

What is the Medigap underwriting catch?

Outside of a guaranteed-issue window, a Medigap insurer can use medical underwriting, which means it can deny you or charge you more based on your health. You have guaranteed issue, with no underwriting, only in specific situations, including when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area or you involuntarily lose coverage (usually within 63 days), and under a trial right if you joined Medicare Advantage when you were first eligible for Medicare and switch back to Original Medicare within 12 months.

What is the Medicare Advantage trial right?

If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible for Medicare and you switch back to Original Medicare within 12 months, you have a trial right. That gives you a guaranteed-issue window to buy a Medigap policy without medical underwriting. It is one of the few ways to move to Original Medicare plus Medigap without a health review.

Will I get a Part D late penalty if I switch?

You can. Going 63 or more days without creditable drug coverage can trigger a permanent Part D late enrollment penalty. To avoid it, line up a standalone Part D drug plan at the same time you switch back to Original Medicare, so there is no gap.

Which plan should I pick?

CareRoute is independent, does not sell insurance, and takes no commissions, so we do not recommend a specific plan or insurer. If you want help comparing coverage against your own doctors and drugs, our Decision Support walkthrough can help you think it through. If you just want to understand a letter you received about your plan, our free Medicare Letter Check tool will explain what it means.

Medicare plan change: understand your letter Medicare Decision Support Does Medicare have an out-of-pocket limit? Appeal a Medicare Advantage denial

This is general information, not insurance advice, and not a recommendation of any specific plan or insurer. The Medigap point matters: outside of a guaranteed-issue window, a Medigap insurer can use medical underwriting and can deny you or charge more based on your health, so confirm your situation before you drop coverage. Medicare rules, dates, and enrollment windows are set by federal law and can change. Confirm your options with your plan or with Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). CareRoute is independent, does not sell insurance, and takes no commissions. Last updated: September 2026.