Senior Living Guide8/9

When you can actually switch plans

You generally can't just switch Medicare Advantage plans whenever you want. The main window is the Annual Enrollment Period, typically running mid-October through early December, for coverage that starts the following January. There's also a shorter Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, typically January through March, for people already in an Advantage plan to make one change.

Outside those windows, you usually need a qualifying life event — like moving out of the plan's service area or losing other coverage — to change plans. Mark the enrollment dates on your calendar, because missing them can mean waiting almost a year for the next chance.

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