October 15 - December 7

This is the time of year when you can enroll, or change your Medicare Advantage plan, or your Prescription Drug Plan.

If you are considering dropping your Medicare Supplement plan and give a Medicare Advantage plan a try, this is the time to do so. Switching back to the Supplement plan may not be as easy, however. Rules about that vary between states. Talking to an insurance agent may be a good idea before switching.

Medicare Supplement plans don't follow the enrollment periods mentioned above. Each state has their own rules. There can be a variety of reasons that would allow a change without having to go through underwriting.

One of the enrollment opportunities in California is the Birthday Rule. This allows you to change a Supplement plan to another Supplement plan, with equal or lesser coverage, starting on your birthday and 60 days forward with "guaranteed issue" (no underwriting).

You may be able to change your Supplement plan any time of year as long as you can answer NO to all the Medical Questions asked on the application. You will have to go through underwriting in this case. Keep in mind that pre-existing exclusions could come into effect and many states may increase your premium quite significantly when changing.

Most importantly: Do NOT cancel your current plan until confirmation of new coverage is confirmed.