How to Switch Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare, the federally administered healthcare program for the elderly and disabled, offers its beneficiaries many options. Beneficiaries can choose among traditional Medicare plans from the government, or from the hundreds of Medicare Advantage plans on the market. If you've chosen Medicare Advantage you may find that as your health situation changes, your Medicare Advantage plan no longer offers what you need. Fortunately, Medicare allows you to make necessary changes.

Instructions

• 1

  Find out if you are in a designated enrollment period. Medicare Interactive reports that you can only switch Medicare Advantage plans during these limited times. During your Initial Enrollment Period, which lasts up to three months after you first become eligible for Medicare, you can switch plans any time.

  Medicare's official website lists the open enrollment period for switching Medicare Advantage plans as Jan. 1 to March 31 annually, and the annual coordinated election period as Nov. 14 to Dec. 31 each year.

• 2

  Log on to Medicare.gov, the official Medicare website. Here you will use a "plan finder" (see Resources) to find a Medicare Advantage plan that you like. The plan finder tool allows you to input personalized information about your health situation to find a list of plans available in your area. First, click "Health & Drug Plans" on the left hand side of the home page followed by "Compare Drug and Health Plans & Medigap Policies." From here, you can enter either your zip code, or more personal information including your Medicare number and name. Click "Find Plans" once you're through.

• 3

  Answer the questions that plan finder asks about your current cover and what prescription drugs you take. Provide the dosage, frequency and name to locate plans that cover the drugs you need. Compare these plans side-by-side using the "Compare plans" link.

• 4

  Enroll in your new Medicare Advantage plan. Q1Medicare says there is no need to disenroll from your previous plan. Joining the new plan will effectively remove you from the plan you want to leave. You can enroll from the plan finder tool (there is an "Enroll Now" button next to the plan listing), or you can enroll with the plan directly. Call the plan to ask for their preferred enrollment method. Some plans prefer paper enrollment, while others can enroll you over the phone. Medicare Interactive, however, recommends enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan by calling 800-MEDICARE because it can reduce administrative errors.