If you want to switch Medicare Advantage plans, the Annual Enrollment Period is the main time of year to do it. AEP runs from October 15 through December 7, and a new plan you choose during that window starts January 1. The mechanics are simpler than most people expect, but the preparation is where the switch either goes smoothly or turns into a February headache.
This article is educational only. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) are the official sources for plan and coverage information.
Here is the process, step by step, the way we walk people through it in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade.
First, Make Sure You Actually Want to Switch
People usually start thinking about switching for one of a few reasons: the Annual Notice of Change showed a premium or copay increase, a drug moved tiers, a doctor left the network, or a neighbor mentioned a plan with a benefit that sounds appealing.
Any of those can be a good reason. Before you go further, though, write down exactly what is bothering you about your current plan. That one sentence becomes the test every new plan has to pass. If a new plan fixes your problem but creates a different one, you want to see that before you enroll, not after.
Step 1: Read Your Annual Notice of Change Carefully
Your current plan mailed its ANOC in September. It shows what is changing for next year. Note any changes to:
- The monthly plan premium
- Copays for primary care, specialists and hospital stays
- The out-of-pocket maximum
- How your specific medications are covered
- The provider network, if the notice mentions it
Sometimes the ANOC settles the question. If the changes are small and your plan still works, you may decide to stay. If they matter, you now know what you need the next plan to do better.
Step 2: Build Your Medication and Doctor Lists
Write down each prescription with its exact name, dosage and how often you fill it, plus the pharmacy you use. Then list your primary care doctor, specialists and preferred hospital.
These lists do the heavy lifting. Every plan you consider has to be checked against them.
Step 3: Find Plans Available in Your County
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by county, so what your friend in another county has may not be available to you. Use the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or work with a licensed agent to see which plans serve your ZIP code.
Step 4: Check Each Candidate Against Your Lists
For each plan you are considering:
- Look up every must-keep doctor and hospital in the plan’s provider directory for the coming year
- Check every medication on the plan’s drug list, including the tier and any requirements such as prior authorization or step therapy
- Confirm how your pharmacy is treated in the plan’s network
- Note whether the plan is an HMO or PPO, and what that means for referrals and out-of-network care
Drop any plan that fails on a doctor or drug you cannot do without. In most cases you will end up with two or three real candidates.
Step 5: Compare the Whole Year
For the plans left on your list, estimate the cost of a typical year and a harder year. Include the plan premium, the copays you expect, your drug costs at your pharmacy and the out-of-pocket maximum. Remember that you generally continue to pay your Part B premium in any Medicare Advantage plan.
Also look at the practical side: how the plan handles travel outside Florida, whether you need referrals, and any extra benefits you would really use. Read the limits on those extras rather than assuming they match a full stand-alone policy.
Step 6: Enroll in the New Plan
When you have decided, enroll in the new plan directly, through Medicare.gov, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or with a licensed agent. In most cases, enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage plan during AEP automatically ends your enrollment in the old one when the new coverage starts January 1. You generally do not need to call your current plan to cancel.
A word of caution for anyone who also has a stand-alone Part D drug plan or a Medigap policy: the rules for how those interact with Medicare Advantage are specific, and enrolling in some plans can end other coverage. Ask before you enroll so nothing ends that you meant to keep.
Step 7: Confirm and Watch the Mail
After enrolling, keep your confirmation number. Your new plan should send a welcome packet and member ID card before January 1. If they have not arrived by mid-December, call the plan to check that your enrollment went through.
In early January:
- Start using your new member card and put the old one away
- Give your new card to your doctors’ offices and pharmacy
- Refill a prescription early in the month so any issue surfaces quickly
- Keep your old plan’s paperwork for a while in case a late claim from December comes up
What If You Change Your Mind?
If you enroll in a plan and then reconsider before December 7, you can choose again, and the last enrollment submitted during AEP is generally the one that takes effect. After AEP, people in a Medicare Advantage plan have the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 to make one change, either to another Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare, with the option to join a Part D plan.
If you are weighing a move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare instead of to another Advantage plan, that is a different decision with its own rules. Our general overview of Medicare options in Florida is a good place to start, and Medicare.gov has the full details.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I switch Medicare Advantage plans?
The main window is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, with the new plan starting January 1. People already in a Medicare Advantage plan can also make one change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31.
Do I need to cancel my old Medicare Advantage plan before switching?
In most cases, no. Enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage plan during AEP generally ends your old plan automatically when the new coverage begins. Confirm with the new plan or with 1-800-MEDICARE if you are unsure.
Will switching plans affect my Medigap or Part D coverage?
It can. Enrolling in some Medicare Advantage plans can end a stand-alone Part D plan, and Medigap policies do not work with Medicare Advantage. Ask about your specific situation before you enroll so you do not lose coverage you meant to keep.
How do I check if my doctors are in the new plan’s network?
Look up each doctor and hospital in the plan’s provider directory for the coming year, and call the offices to ask whether they expect to accept that plan. Networks can change from year to year, so confirm before you enroll.
What if I switch and then regret it?
Before December 7, you can make another choice, and the last enrollment submitted during AEP generally takes effect. After that, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 allows one change.
Get Help With the Switch
If you would like a licensed agent to check your doctors and medications against the Medicare Advantage plans we offer in your county, call Maher Insurance Group at (866) 220-2834, or complete our short online questionnaire and we will follow up when it suits you.
Maher Insurance Group is a licensed independent insurance brokerage and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for information on all of your options.
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