Medicare.gov

Joining a plan

To join a Medicare health plan, you generally must:

  • Have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)  and Part B (Medical Insurance) .
  • Live in the service area of the plan you want to join.
  • Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S.
  • Have your Medicare Number and your Part A and/or Part B coverage start dates. Find this information on your Medicare card.

When to join a Medicare health or drug plan

You can only join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Medicare drug plan (Part D) at certain times, called enrollment periods. In general, when you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must keep the plan for the rest of the year, unless you drop it to return to Original Medicare within 12 months of joining the Medicare Advantage Plan. You can drop or change Medicare Advantage Plans during the Open Enrollment Period, Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, or if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Enrollment period:You can:Coverage starts:

Initial Enrollment Period
(new to Medicare)

Starts 3 months before you get Medicare and ends 3 months after you get Medicare.

Join any plan.

  • You need both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) to join a Medicare Advantage Plan.
  • You need either Part A or Part B to join a Medicare drug plan.

Varies, depending on when the plan gets your request:

  • If you request to join a plan before your Medicare starts: Your plan coverage starts the same day as when your Medicare starts.
  • If you request to join a plan after your Medicare starts: Your plan coverage starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

Initial Enrollment Period – New to Part B
(only if you get Part B after your Part A coverage starts)

The 3 months before your Part B starts.

Join any Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.The same day as when your Part B coverage starts.
Open Enrollment Period
October 15-December 7.
  • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (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.

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.
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, and more. Learn more about Special Enrollment Periods. 

Generally, you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or Medicare drug plan, or 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.

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

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

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 & Part B.

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

How to join a Medicare health or drug plan

1. Find out which plans are available in your area.

  • Compare plans in your area – Find out what they cost and services they provide. Enter prescription drugs you take to get an estimate of your monthly and yearly cost for each plan.
  • Use your “Medicare & You” handbook to find plans – they’re listed in the back.
  • 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 if they’re in the plan’s network.
  • 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 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, you can:

  • Select “Enroll” for the plan you want to join.
  • 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.

Learn more about Medicare health plans and drug coverage (Part D).

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