How to Move From Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare

Medicare Advantage plans are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) or Private Fee-for-Service plans (PFFSs). These plans typically include prescription coverage. You can enroll in Medicare Advantage plans during the annual enrollment period each year (November 15 to December 31 in 2010, October 15 to December 7 in 2011). If you change your mind, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan if it's still during the annual enrollment period, or you can switch back to original Medicare. You can move back to original Medicare from January 1 to February 14 or during the annual enrollment period. You can also enroll or disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial enrollment period, which is the three months before and after your Medicare start date.

Things You'll Need

• Contact information for your Medicare Advantage Plan
• Phone
• Computer with Internet access

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Instructions

• 1

  Confirm that it is currently one of the enrollment periods that you can change from a Medicare Advantage plan to original Medicare.

• 2

  Call your Medicare Advantage plan and tell them you want to move back to original Medicare. Make certain to note the name of the person you speak with and that the plan will send you written confirmation. Alternatively, you can also call Medicare directly at 1-800-Medicare.

• 3

  Decide if you are going to enroll in a Medicare supplemental plan, also known as a Medigap. These plans are different from Medicare Advantage plans in that they are secondary to Medicare and don't have a provider network. The plans cover the co-pays and deductibles left by original Medicare. Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government, and are easy to compare from one company to another. A plan A with one company will cover the same things as a plan A with another company; the only difference is in price and the quality of the company. You can also just have original Medicare as your health coverage. The Medicare plan finder at https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx shows plans available in your area.

• 4

  Decide which part D prescription plan to enroll in. Your prescription coverage was bundled into your Medicare Advantage plan, but with original Medicare, you can purchase your prescription coverage separately through a part D plan. These plans are sold by private companies, and co-pays, deductibles and formularies vary. The Medicare plan finder also provides information on prescription plans.