Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Your January–March Chance to Switch
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. If you picked a Medicare Advantage plan and it does not feel right come January, there is a second chance. This short guide explains the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, who can use it, and what it can and cannot do. The details below come from Medicare.gov, as read in November 2026.
What Is the January–March Window?
People already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) get an extra window each year from January 1 to March 31. Medicare calls it the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
It is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you have Original Medicare, this window is not for you. Your main yearly chance is the October 15 to December 7 Open Enrollment, which is open right now.
What You Can Do in This Window
According to Medicare.gov, during this window you can do one of two things:
- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and go back to Original Medicare. If you do, you can also join a separate Medicare drug plan.
Changes take effect on the first day of the month after the plan gets your request. For example, a request made in February would start March 1.
What This Window Is Not For
Medicare.gov lists this period only for people already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, and only for the two changes above. It is not a way to move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage Plan. That change is listed under the fall Open Enrollment Period.
Before You Drop Your Plan, Check These Things
Going back to Original Medicare changes how your coverage works. Take a little time before you decide.
- Make a list of your doctors, your medicines and the pharmacy you use. Check how each would be covered under the new choice.
- If you return to Original Medicare, think about whether you will want a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy and a drug plan. Medigap rules vary by state and by situation, so ask a counselor before you give up your current plan.
- Look at the plan’s costs for the whole year: premiums, deductibles, copays and the yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket.
- Do not cancel your current plan before your new coverage is lined up. Make your change through Medicare, so you are not left without coverage.
For a side-by-side look at how the two paths differ, see our guide to Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap.
How to Make a Change
Medicare.gov says you can join a plan by choosing “Enroll” at Medicare.gov/plan-compare, by contacting the plan, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).
Free, Unbiased Help
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free one-on-one counseling. SHIP counselors are not connected to any insurance company or health plan. You can find yours at shiphelp.org.
A reminder: Medicare will never call you out of the blue to sell you a plan or ask for your Social Security number, bank details or a payment. If a caller pushes you to switch right away, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
This article is general information. Your costs, plan choices and deadlines depend on your own situation, so check with Medicare or a SHIP counselor.
More on Seniors Tips
- Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing Your Coverage
- Your Medicare Annual Notice of Change: How to Read It Before December 7
- Free Medicare Help: How a SHIP Counselor Can Walk You Through Your Options
