Medicare Advantage enrollees have two guaranteed annual windows to switch to Original Medicare, plus additional windows tied to specific life events. The MA OEP (Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period) is available only to people currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, and you can make one coverage change during it. The MA OEP doesn't apply to Medical Savings Account plans, cost plans or PACE enrollees.
Can You Switch From Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare?
Updated: April 1, 2026
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Key Takeaways
You can switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during the AEP and the MA OEP each year.
The MA OEP runs from January 1 to March 31 and Original Medicare coverage starts the first of the following month.
After your 12-month trial period ends, most states won't guarantee a Medigap plan without medical underwriting.
The 2026 Part B standard premium is $202.90 per month, up from $185 in 2025.
MAKING THE SWITCH BACK TO ORIGINAL MEDICARE
Switching from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare is possible during two annual enrollment windows. Once you return, Part A covers hospital and skilled nursing care, and Part B covers outpatient services at the 2026 standard premium of $202.90 per month, according to CMS.
Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum and doesn't include prescription drug coverage or extras such as dental and vision, so you'll need to plan for both gaps before switching. Review your health insurance options before disenrolling from Medicare Advantage to avoid unexpected costs.
When Can You Switch Back to Original Medicare?
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 to December 7 Each Year
Coverage changes made during the AEP take effect January 1 of the following year. Any enrollee currently in a Medicare Advantage plan can use the AEP to return to Original Medicare. Changes submitted at any point during the AEP window take effect on the same date, regardless of when you submit your request.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): January 1 to March 31 Each Year
Original Medicare coverage starts the first day of the month after CMS receives your request. You're limited to one coverage change during this window. A request submitted in February means Original Medicare coverage starts March 1. The MA OEP is for current Medicare Advantage enrollees only and can't be used if you're not already in an MA plan.
Initial Coverage Election Period (IEP) Trial Window
The IEP trial window is available during the first three months after your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage begins. If you chose a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Coverage Election Period and want to return to Original Medicare, this three-month window lets you do so. Coverage takes effect the first of the month following your request. This window also preserves your Medigap guaranteed issue rights per CMS enrollment guidance.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Triggered by Qualifying Life Events
Most SEP windows last two months from the triggering event. You qualify when you move outside your plan's service area, leave a nursing home or institution, lose other coverage or experience other CMS-recognized events. Coverage usually takes effect the first of the month after CMS receives your request. A 2026 SEP also covers beneficiaries who enrolled through Medicare Plan Finder and found the provider directory was inaccurate.
5-Star Special Enrollment Period
The 5-Star SEP is available at any time except the first week of December. If a Medicare Advantage plan in your area holds a 5-star CMS rating, you can switch to it outside of standard enrollment periods. Fewer than 5% of plans nationwide qualified for this rating in 2026 per CMS. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to search for 5-star rated plans before using this window.
SWITCHING DURING THE MA OEP? YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANGE.
The MA OEP allows only one coverage change, and only if you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan. If you switch to Original Medicare during this period and then change your mind, you can't use the MA OEP again until January 1 of the following year.
A 2026 inaccurate directory SEP lets you switch to a different plan if Medicare Plan Finder showed incorrect provider information and you enrolled directly through that platform.
How to Switch From Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare
Switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare means disenrolling from your current plan and confirming your Part A and Part B coverage is active. The process has a few moving parts, but the biggest thing to sort out before your switch date is drug coverage.
A gap in that coverage can trigger a late enrollment penalty. Work through each step below before your enrollment window closes.
- 1Confirm You're in an Eligible Enrollment Window
Check whether the AEP (October 15 to December 7) or the MA OEP (January 1 to March 31) is currently open. If you've had a qualifying life event, contact 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm you have an active Special Enrollment Period. Your switch can only proceed during a valid enrollment window.
- 2Review What Original Medicare Covers and Costs
Original Medicare covers hospital and outpatient care but doesn't include prescription drugs, routine dental, vision or hearing. The 2026 Part B standard premium is $202.90 per month and the Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 in 2026, up from $1,676 in 2025. Budget for these costs before committing, and confirm whether you'll need standalone dental, vision or Part D coverage.
- 3Decide on a Standalone Part D Plan
If you leave a Medicare Advantage plan that included drug coverage, you'll need to enroll in a separate Part D plan to maintain prescription coverage. You can do this at the same time you switch. Without Part D, any gap of 63 or more consecutive days in creditable drug coverage may trigger a permanent late enrollment penalty.
- 4Check Your Medigap Eligibility Before Switching
Your Medigap eligibility depends on which enrollment window is still open. Enrollees still within their 6-month Medigap open enrollment period or their 12-month trial period for a first Medicare Advantage plan have guaranteed issue rights to buy a Medigap plan without medical underwriting. After those windows close, most states allow insurers to deny your Medigap application or charge higher premiums based on your health. Confirm your window before disenrolling.
- 5Contact Your Medicare Advantage Plan to Disenroll
Call your Medicare Advantage plan directly to request disenrollment, or make the change at medicare.gov using the Medicare Plan Finder. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for help. Get a confirmation number and record the date, time and name of the representative. Your plan must accept disenrollment requests during any valid election period.
- 6Confirm Your Original Medicare Coverage Is Active
After your switch date, log in to mymedicare.gov to confirm your Part A and Part B coverage is listed as active. If you enrolled in a Part D plan, confirm that plan is also showing. Contact your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE if your coverage doesn't reflect your change by the expected effective date.
What Happens to Your Medigap Coverage When You Switch?
Returning to Original Medicare doesn't automatically give you the right to buy a Medigap plan. In most states, Medigap insurers can use medical underwriting to deny your application or charge a higher premium if your 6-month Medigap open enrollment period has passed and you're not in a protected window.
This is the single biggest financial risk of leaving Medicare Advantage after your first year.
- 12-month trial right: If you're leaving your first Medicare Advantage plan within 12 months of enrollment, you have a guaranteed 60-day window to buy a Medigap plan without medical underwriting per CMS.
- Plan exit or service area withdrawal: If your Medicare Advantage plan closes or leaves your service area, you retain a trial right to purchase Medigap without health questions.
- State protections: As of 2026, 21 states offer at least some form of annual guaranteed Medigap access. Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York allow Medigap enrollment at any time regardless of health status.
- No federal right after trial periods end: Outside of these protected windows, Medigap insurers in most states can apply medical underwriting, which may result in denial or higher premiums based on your health history.
LEAVING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AFTER YEAR ONE? CHECK MEDIGAP FIRST.
If your 12-month trial period has ended and you're not in a state with guaranteed annual access to Medigap, contact a licensed insurance agent before disenrolling from your Medicare Advantage plan. Once you disenroll, you can't reverse the switch during the same election period.
Medigap insurers may deny your application or charge higher premiums based on your health history once guaranteed issue rights end.
Is There a Penalty for Switching From Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare?
CMS doesn't impose a penalty for leaving Medicare Advantage and returning to Original Medicare. You can make this switch as many times as you want over your lifetime, as long as each switch occurs during a valid enrollment window. CMS treats a return to Original Medicare as a standard coverage election. No disenrollment fee applies, and your prior Medicare Advantage enrollment history doesn't affect your Part A or Part B benefits.
The Part D late enrollment penalty is the real financial risk when switching. If you leave a Medicare Advantage plan that included drug coverage and don't enroll in a standalone Part D plan, you risk a permanent penalty for any period of 63 or more consecutive days without creditable drug coverage. That penalty is added to your Part D premium for as long as you hold coverage.
Should You Switch Back to Original Medicare?
The decision to leave Medicare Advantage comes down to three factors: provider access, Medigap eligibility and how much you use your plan's extra benefits. For enrollees still in their first year, that decision differs from someone several years into a Medicare Advantage plan who has already lost guaranteed Medigap rights.
Should You Switch?Reasons to Switch to Original MedicareReasons to Stay With Medicare Advantage
- You need to see out-of-network specialists or facilities that your Medicare Advantage plan's network doesn't include. Original Medicare lets you use any provider who accepts Medicare nationwide without a referral.
- You're within your 12-month trial period for your first Medicare Advantage plan, which protects your guaranteed issue right to buy Medigap without medical underwriting.
- Your Medicare Advantage plan is exiting your service area or closing, triggering a Special Enrollment Period that also preserves your Medigap trial rights.
- You travel frequently or divide time between states, and your Medicare Advantage HMO or PPO network doesn't cover your regular providers in both locations.
- Your 12-month trial period has ended and your state doesn't guarantee Medigap access, meaning switching to Original Medicare leaves you exposed to high out-of-pocket costs without a path to Medigap coverage.
- You actively use dental, vision or hearing benefits your Medicare Advantage plan includes. Original Medicare doesn't cover these, and buying standalone plans adds monthly cost.
- You'd need to add a separate Part D plan after switching, and the combined cost of Part B ($202.90 per month in 2026 per CMS) plus Medigap plus Part D may exceed your current Medicare Advantage plan costs.
- Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum. Without a Medicare Supplement plan, a serious hospitalization can result in costs well above what a Medicare Advantage plan's MOOP would cap.
Switching From Medicare Advantage: Bottom Line
You can drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare during the AEP (October 15 to December 7) or the MA OEP (January 1 to March 31). The more consequential question is Medigap: if your 12-month trial period has passed, most states don't guarantee access to a Medigap plan. Confirm your eligibility before you disenroll.
Switching From Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare: FAQ
We've covered the most frequently asked questions about the enrollment windows, Medigap rights, Part D requirements and special enrollment scenarios that come up most often when switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare:
What is the 2026 inaccurate provider directory SEP for Medicare Advantage?
CMS introduced a 2026 Special Enrollment Period for beneficiaries who enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan through Medicare Plan Finder and found their preferred provider wasn't in-network. The SEP gives up to three months from your 2026 enrollment date to switch, requires CMS approval and applies only to enrollments made through the official Medicare Plan Finder.
Can I switch to Original Medicare if my plan exits my service area?
A Medicare Advantage plan exit triggers a Special Enrollment Period to return to Original Medicare outside the standard AEP and MA OEP windows. You also retain a guaranteed right to purchase Medigap during this SEP, protecting you from medical underwriting. Confirm your SEP dates with 1-800-MEDICARE as soon as you receive the plan termination notice.
Do I need to enroll in a Part D plan when I switch back to Original Medicare?
Original Medicare doesn't include prescription drug coverage, so you'll need a standalone Part D plan to maintain your drug coverage. Any gap of 63 or more consecutive days without creditable drug coverage triggers a permanent late enrollment penalty. Enroll in Part D at the same time you switch to Original Medicare to avoid the penalty.
What happens if I miss the MA OEP and can't wait until fall open enrollment?
Outside the AEP and MA OEP, you can only switch if a qualifying life event triggers a Special Enrollment Period. Qualifying events include moving outside your plan's service area, leaving an institution or losing coverage. Without a qualifying event, you'll need to wait until the next AEP (October 15 to December 7).
Which states allow guaranteed access to Medigap after leaving Medicare Advantage?
Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York allow Medigap enrollment at any time regardless of health status. As of 2026, 21 states offer some form of annual guaranteed Medigap access, though rules vary by state. In remaining states, insurers can use medical underwriting after your 6-month initial enrollment period ends. Confirm your state's rules before disenrolling from Medicare Advantage.
Can I switch back to Medicare Advantage after returning to Original Medicare?
You can move from Original Medicare back to Medicare Advantage during the next AEP (October 15 to December 7) or with a qualifying Special Enrollment Period. CMS places no lifetime cap on how many times you can switch between program types, but each change must occur within a valid election window.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.