1. You can switch during the Annual Coordinated Election Period which runs from November 15 through December 31 every year. Your new coverage starts January 1. During this period you can change your choice of health coverage, and add, drop or change Medicare drug coverage. (You can make as many changes as you need during this period, but only your last coverage choice will take effect January 1. However, to avoid enrollment problems, it is best to make as few changes as possible).

   Note: If you are changing plans to join a Medicare Medical Savings Accounts (MSA), you can only do so during the ACEP.

2. You can switch once during the Open Enrollment Period which runs from January 1 through March 31 every year. Your new coverage starts the first of the month after you make your selection. You cannot decide to add or drop Medicare drug coverage (Part D) during this time.

For information on when you can enroll in or change Medicare drug plans, follow the links in the GO TO box.

Annual Coordinated Election Period

You can make any change you want (if you are enrolling in the Medicare drug benefit for the first time, you may face a penalty if you had not previously had coverage as good as Medicare’s).

To find out about the penalty, click on “Will I be penalized for delaying enrollment in the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D)?” in the GO TO box.

Open Enrollment Period

If you have...	You can switch to...
a Medicare private health plan with drug coverage	another Medicare private health plan with drug coverage or Original Medicare and a stand-alone drug plan
Original Medicare and a stand-alone drug plan	a Medicare private health plan with drug coverage
a Medicare private health plan without drug coverage.	another Medicare private health plan without drug coverage or Original Medicare alone (no stand-alone drug plan)
Original Medicare alone (no stand-alone drug plan)	a Medicare private health plan without drug coverage

If your Medicare private health plan leaves your area or you move out of your plan's service area, you can switch to another private health plan or to Original Medicare.

Under certain circumstances, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to change your drug coverage and/or health plan. If you get an SEP, your new coverage will start the first of the month after you sign up for or disenroll from a Medicare private health plan.

Part D Special Enrollment Period (SEP) Chart

Enroll early during an enrollment period to make sure that your new coverage starts when it should.

To learn how to change plans, follow the links in the GO TO box.

To find out what Medicare private health plans are available in your area, click on the link in the LINKS box.