Can I change my Medicare coverage outside of the Medicare Open Enrollment period?

You can, but generally only under special circumstances that qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). These circumstances include (but are not limited to) moving to a new location that is outside of your current plan’s service area or where additional plan options are available, moving back into the U.S. after living abroad, moving into or out of a facility, termination of Medicaid eligibility, if Medicare terminates your current Medicare Advantage plan, or if you are affected by a hurricane, wildfire, or other disaster or emergency declared by the government. There is also a Special Enrollment Period that allows incarcerated individuals who become newly eligible for Medicare to enroll, and current Medicare beneficiaries who drop Medicare coverage while incarcerated to re-enroll in Medicare, starting the day they’re released and up to 12 months later. You can learn about all of the situations that qualify for a Special Enrollment Period on the Medicare website “ Special Enrollment Periods.”

Starting in 2025, beneficiaries who receive assistance from Medicaid or Extra Help with Medicare drug plan premiums and cost sharing can change coverage once a month. If you receive this additional assistance, you may switch between stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs), disenroll from a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan to traditional Medicare plus a PDP, or enroll in plans that coordinate care between Medicare and Medicaid (integrated dual-eligible Special Needs Plans). But you cannot use the monthly SEP to switch or enroll in Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans; those changes can only be made during the annual Medicare open enrollment period or the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period.  

Some other beneficiaries can also change their coverage from month to month. This includes beneficiaries in certain institutions, such as nursing homes, who can switch Medicare Advantage or Part D plans once a month for as long as they are living there.