When you can switch
| Window | Dates | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|
| Open enrollment | October 15 to December 7 | January 1 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 to March 31 (one change) | First of the next month |
| Your plan is ending | December 8 to the last day of February | First of the next month |
| Florida Medicaid or Extra Help | Once a calendar month | First of the next month |
| Trial right (first Medicare Advantage plan) | Within 12 months of joining | First of the next month |
| Moving out of your plan's area | From the move through 2 full months after | Depends on when you choose |
Don't forget drug coverage
Original Medicare doesn't include Part D. Join a standalone drug plan at the same time, or you could pay a late enrollment penalty later. CMS lists 11 standalone Part D plans from 6 companies in Florida for 2027; Florida is its own Part D region, so the same plans are sold in all 67 counties. See Part D in Florida.
The Florida Medigap catch, and Florida's extra right
Florida has no Medigap birthday, anniversary or yearly switching rule (Fla. Stat. 627.671 to 627.675). So when you leave Medicare Advantage, a Medigap company can usually ask about your health and decline you. You can buy Medigap without health questions in these situations:
- Trial right: you joined Medicare Advantage when first eligible at 65 and leave within 12 months, or you dropped a Medigap policy to join Medicare Advantage for the first time and leave within 12 months.
- Your plan is ending or leaving your county, or you move out of its area.
- Your plan broke its contract or misled you.
- Your group health coverage ends (Florida law): for 2 months after group health insurance ends, Florida requires Medigap companies to sell you a policy without health questions or health-based pricing, if you're in Part B and live in Florida (Fla. Stat. 627.6741(1)(a)2).
Without one of these, apply before you drop your plan: stay in Medicare Advantage until a Medigap company approves you. If you're under 65 with Medicare because of a disability or ESRD, Florida's 6-month Medigap open enrollment starts when you're first enrolled in Part B, so it may already have passed. Once you're in, Florida bans attained-age pricing and gives you 30 days to return a new policy for a refund. See Medigap in Florida and Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Florida.
State and local government retirees: check first
If you're in one of the State Group Insurance Program's group Medicare Advantage (MA-PD) plans, ask People First before you join any outside plan. The State says a retiree who cancels State coverage can't re-enroll later. Retirees of a Florida county, city or school district should ask their former employer. See Florida state retirees and Medicare.
To compare Medigap and Part D options from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Can I change my plan after January 1?
January 1 to March 31.
My plan is ending in 2027
Your 63-day Medigap right.
When is open enrollment?
October 15 to December 7.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods (trial right, Medicaid and Extra Help, moves)
- Medicare.gov — Guaranteed issue rights
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.62, election of coverage under an MA plan
- Florida Statutes — s. 627.6741, Medigap open enrollment and the 2-month group-coverage window
- Florida Administrative Code — Chapter 69O-156, Medicare supplement (guaranteed issue, 69O-156.0095)
- Florida Department of Management Services, MyBenefits — Retirees
More questions in this guide
- Can I change my Medicare Advantage plan after January 1 in Florida?
- When is Medicare open enrollment in Florida for 2027 coverage?
- My Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027 in Florida. What do I do?
- What is the Annual Notice of Change letter from my Medicare plan?
- Which Medicare companies are leaving Florida in 2027?
Part of the guide: Medicare Open Enrollment in Florida (2027 Plans) · All questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I drop my Medicare Advantage plan?
If your plan includes drug coverage, the simplest way is to join a standalone Part D plan; that ends your Medicare Advantage enrollment automatically. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or send your plan a written request to disenroll.
When does Original Medicare start after I switch?
A change made October 15 to December 7 starts January 1. A change made January 1 to March 31, or with most special enrollment periods, starts the first of the month after your request.
I joined Medicare Advantage at 65 less than a year ago. Can I get Medigap?
Yes. Under the trial right, if you joined a Medicare Advantage plan when first eligible for Medicare at 65 and leave within 12 months, you can buy any Medigap policy sold in Florida without health questions.
Medicare in your Florida county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk · Pasco · Brevard · Volusia · Seminole · Sarasota · Osceola · Manatee · Lake · Marion · Collier · St. Lucie · All 67 counties →
