How to Change Medical Plans

The option to change medical plans depends on your type of health insurance policy. Changes to group health insurance plans can only occur during your employer's open enrollment time, unless you have a qualifying life event. Individual medical plans offer more flexibility to change from plan to plan. Always secure new coverage before canceling your current policy. If you are working with an insurance agent, ensure that he provides you with the new policy information prior to changing to a new medical plan.

Instructions

• 1

  Select a different medical plan during your company's open enrollment period. If you are enrolled in a group health insurance plan, you can only make changes during this time. You cannot make plan changes during other times unless you have a qualifying event, such as adding a newborn or adopted child, or adding a spouse who lost group coverage.

• 2

  Secure new health insurance and receive written confirmation of the new medical plan. This confirmation should contain policy details such as the policy effective date, premium rates and benefits covered and excluded. The effective dates of most plans fall on the first of the month.

• 3

  Call your current health insurer and tell the representative you would like to cancel your medical policy. Make sure your new coverage is in place, so you won't have a lapse in coverage. It's preferable to have dual coverage from two plans, rather than no coverage. If your current policy can be canceled, you may receive a pro-rated refund if you prepaid and cancel your plan before the renewal date.

• 4

  Switch plan options, but stay with the same insurer. You may be able to change plan options online if you sign into a member portal on the insurance company's website and access your plan information. You may need to call the insurer to make a change.

• 5

  Do not pay your premiums. Your health insurer will cancel your policy for non-payment. You should provide them a courtesy call or letter to let them know you do not plan to renew your policy; however, if you do nothing, your insurer will cancel your policy.

• 6

  Tell your insurer or insurance agent you do not want to proceed if you are in the "free look" period of a new policy. Most states require insurers offer a window of time where you can review the policy and return it for a full refund. You may decide to switch medical plans during this period if one plan better meets your needs than your original selection.