5 Mistakes to Avoid When Switching Medicare Advantage Plans

The biggest mistakes to avoid when switching Medicare Advantage plans are assuming your current plan will still be there next year, choosing a plan on premium alone, expecting your doctors and prescriptions to carry over, waiting until the last few days of Open Enrollment, and thinking you can switch whenever you like next year.

Each one is easy to avoid with a little help before December 7. I'm Mitch Lyman, an independent Medicare broker in Meridian, and these are the problems I see most often when people across the Treasure Valley change plans on their own.

The 5 Most Common Switching Mistakes

1. Assuming your current plan will still be there. Some Medicare Advantage plans aren't continuing in 2027, including the Saint Alphonsus plans here in the Treasure Valley. If your plan is ending and you don't choose a new one, you'll have Original Medicare only on January 1, without your plan's drug coverage or extras. If you're not sure whether you got a plan-ending letter, call me and I'll check for you.

2. Choosing on premium or extras alone. A low premium or a generous dental benefit looks great on a flyer, but what you pay over a year depends on your copays, your prescriptions and the plan's out-of-pocket limit. I look at the whole picture, which is what my guide to comparing Medicare Advantage plans in Idaho for 2027 walks through.

3. Expecting your doctors and prescriptions to come with you. Every plan has its own network and its own drug list, and HMO and PPO plans handle referrals and out-of-network care differently. Rather than digging through provider directories yourself, let me check your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions before you sign up.

4. Waiting until the last few days. December 7 falls on a Monday, and the plan has to receive your enrollment by then for coverage to start January 1. Waiting until that weekend leaves no time to fix a problem with a doctor or a prescription.

5. Thinking you can switch any time next year. After December 7, you're mostly locked in. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one more change between January 1 and March 31. Before December 7, you can still change Medicare Advantage plans during Open Enrollment as many times as you need.

How to Avoid Mistakes When Switching Medicare Advantage Plans

The easiest way to avoid all five is a quick review before you enroll. It's free and happens by phone. I compare Medicare Advantage options from companies such as Blue Cross of Idaho, Humana, UnitedHealthcare and St. Luke's Health Plan, check your doctors and prescriptions for you, and handle the enrollment so nothing falls through the cracks.

If you're a Saint Alphonsus member, start with my guide to the Saint Alphonsus Medicare Advantage plans ending in 2027. Whether you live in Boise, Nampa or Meridian, call or text me at (208) 963-0333, or request a free Medicare review.

Switching Medicare Advantage Plans: FAQs

What should I do if my Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

Choose a new plan by December 7 so your coverage continues on January 1. Here's what to do when your Medicare Advantage plan is ending.

When does my new Medicare Advantage plan start?

January 1, as long as the new plan receives your enrollment by December 7. Medicare.gov's Open Enrollment page explains what you can change between October 15 and December 7.

Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans after December 7?

Only in limited cases. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one change between January 1 and March 31. If your plan is ending, you can join another Medicare Advantage plan through the end of February, but that coverage starts the month after you join.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 23 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.