How and when can my client switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or make changes to their prescription drug coverage without penalties or gaps in coverage?

Depending on what type of Medicare coverage your client is already enrolled in and what changes they want to make to their coverage, there are multiple times throughout the year that this is possible. Generally, a person can join, switch, or drop coverage without penalties or gaps in coverage if they do so during specific Open Enrollment periods or Special Enrollment Periods. 

For example: 

• From January 1 - March 31, a person can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan, or switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and join a Part D plan. 
• From October 15 - December 7, a person can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage or vice versa, join a Medicare drug plan if they didn’t have one already, switch from one Medicare drug plan to another, or drop Medicare drug coverage completely, among other things.

The client can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or their Medicare Advantage plan to request disenrollment outside of the Open Enrollment period. Before moving from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, it is a good idea for clients to check with all of their health care providers to make sure that switching to Original Medicare won’t cause any disruptions in care.