Every year some Medicare Advantage plans may leave the Medicare market (PDF 3.65MB) by Dec. 31. You should receive a letter from your plan by Sept. 30 explaining your options.

When can I enroll in a new plan?

The three most common Medicare Advantage plan enrollment periods are:

  1. Initial Coverage Enrollment Period: When you first enroll in Medicare Parts A and B.
  2. Annual Open Enrollment Period:  Oct 15 – Dec. 31 each year.
  3. Medicare Advantage plan Open Enrollment Period: Jan. 1 – March 31 each year.

Because your plan is leaving Medicare, you also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and have two options to consider between Dec. 8 and the last day of February:

  1. Join a different Medicare Advantage plan. 
  2. Join a new Medicare Part D prescription drug stand-alone plan (this automatically enrolls you in Original Medicare). This also allows you to enroll in a Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement) plan (PDF 13.27MB) within 63 days after your Medicare Advantage plan ends. The company offering the Medigap plan (PDF 450.55KB) must take you if you choose a B-N plan and you don’t have to take a health screen. Note: If you’re under age 65 on Medicare due to a disability, you might not be able to get a Medigap.

Whichever option you choose, your new plan starts the first day of the month after you switch. Sign up with a new plan before Dec. 31 to avoid  coverage gap.