Medicare Advantage · Special Enrollment Periods

Can You Change Medicare Advantage Plans Outside Open Enrollment?

A move, loss of coverage, Medicaid change, plan disruption, or another qualifying event may open a Special Enrollment Period. A licensed agent can help you identify the enrollment opportunity that may apply to you and review the plans our agency represents in your area.

No charge for the review. Scheduling does not require you to enroll. Or call 833-265-9655.

Illustration of a Medicare Advantage Special Enrollment Period opening for life events like moving, hospital stays, marriage, and Medicaid changes
One conversation can identify which may apply to you

Reviewed by David Scallion, licensed insurance agent · Last reviewed: July 2026 · Sourced from Medicare.gov and CMS enrollment guidance

What is a Medicare Advantage Special Enrollment Period?

A Medicare Advantage Special Enrollment Period is a limited opportunity to join, switch, or leave a Medicare Advantage or Medicare drug plan outside the usual annual enrollment dates. It may become available after certain life events, such as moving, losing other coverage, experiencing a Medicaid or Extra Help change, entering or leaving an institution, or certain changes involving your current plan. The actions you can take and the deadline depend on the event that caused the Special Enrollment Period.

A Special Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage is different from a Special Enrollment Period used to enroll in Original Medicare Parts A or B.

What Changed in Your Life or Coverage?

You don't need to know the name of the enrollment period. Start with the event that caused you to review your coverage.

Full guide available

I Moved or Am About to Move

A new permanent address may give you different plan choices or place you outside your current plan's service area.

Medicare plans after moving
Guide coming soon

I Lost Employer, Union, or Other Coverage

Leaving employer or union coverage, including COBRA in the Medicare Advantage plan context, may create a limited opportunity to join a Medicare Advantage or drug plan.

Help after losing coverage
Guide coming soon

My Medicaid or Extra Help Changed

Gaining, losing, or changing low-income assistance can affect both the plans available to you and when you may make a change.

Review Medicaid-related options
Guide coming soon

I Moved Into or Out of a Care Facility

Living in or leaving an eligible institution can provide broader opportunities to join, switch, or leave Medicare Advantage or drug coverage.

Medicare and facility moves
Guide coming soon

My Plan Is Ending or Medicare Took Action

A plan contract ending, not being renewed, receiving a sanction, or undergoing certain major changes may create a separate enrollment opportunity.

Help with a plan disruption
Guide coming soon

I Have a Serious or Disabling Health Condition

You may be able to join a Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan if one serves your qualifying condition and is available where you live.

Review chronic-condition eligibility
Guide coming soon

I Found a Five-Star Medicare Plan

A special rule may allow one switch to an available five-star plan during the permitted period.

Understand the five-star SEP
Guide coming soon

My Situation Is Not Listed

Natural disasters, misleading or incorrect information, major provider-network changes, incarceration release, and other exceptional circumstances may be reviewed under separate rules.

Schedule a situation review

The Deadline Depends on What Happened

Some Special Enrollment Periods last two full months. Others last three months, continue while you live in an institution, permit one change during a defined annual period, or remain available only until you use them. The safest next step is to identify the event, the event date, and the coverage you have now.

Do not assume your window begins or ends on the same date as someone else's.
Schedule My SEP Timing Review

Tell Us What Changed. We'll Help You Review What Comes Next.

1

Identify the event

Tell us what happened and the date it occurred.

2

Confirm the opportunity

A licensed agent reviews the information needed to identify a possible enrollment period.

3

Review local choices

If an opportunity applies, compare the plans we represent for your ZIP code, doctors, and prescriptions.

4

Decide without pressure

Understand the timing and options before deciding whether to submit an enrollment request.

You Will Speak With a Licensed Insurance Agent

Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits helps Medicare beneficiaries understand how life and coverage changes may affect their plan choices. We'll ask what changed, when it happened, where you live, and what coverage you currently have before discussing plans.

David Scallion, licensed Medicare insurance agent, Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits

David Scallion

Founder & Licensed Insurance Agent

Has helped clients compare Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Part D options for years — including SEP situations like moves and coverage changes for aging parents.

Gina Chandler, licensed Medicare insurance agent, Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits

Gina Chandler

Licensed Insurance Agent

Works with clients navigating life-change enrollment situations, including moves, coverage loss, and helping family members compare options.

Danny Rodriguez, licensed Medicare insurance agent, Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits

Danny Rodriguez

Licensed Texas Insurance Agent

Se habla español

Danny helps Spanish- and English-speaking clients understand life-change enrollment situations and compare local plan options.

Independent insurance agency
No charge for the review
No obligation to enroll
Multi-state service area

Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits is not Medicare or a government office, and does not represent every plan available in every area. We can help review whether your circumstances may support a Special Enrollment Period — the plan or Medicare ultimately confirms the election.

Know Whether You Can Act Now — and What to Check Before You Do

Understand the Enrollment Window

Identify the event, the general timing rule, and the information needed for the enrollment request.

Review Plans Available Where You Live

Plan availability is local. Compare the represented options available for your permanent address.

Protect the Care and Coverage That Matter

Review doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, pharmacies, costs, and coverage type before making a change.

People come to us when they want Medicare explained clearly

Real clients have shared that they felt heard, helped, and not rushed.

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“I needed information and advice for both myself and my mother on how to assess our medical insurance and its rising costs. I got both questions fully answered and used their advice to change our providers with lower costs and comparable coverages. It was easy to understand and process. I'm so thankful I contacted Mr. Scallion and I highly recommend his service.”

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“I live in Shrewsbury, PA, and David was able to set up my complete health insurance without me traveling. He is very knowledgeable about the plans available and is an expert on Medicare. David is professional in every aspect of customer service and is always ready to answer questions and clarify information.”

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“I am well pleased with the knowledge and treatment we received from Dave and Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits. He helped with health, auto, and home insurance for my family.”

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Special Enrollment Period Questions

It is an opportunity created by certain life or coverage events that may allow you to join, switch, or leave Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage outside the usual annual enrollment dates.
Not necessarily. You may be able to make a change sooner if a qualifying life or coverage event gives you a Special Enrollment Period. The available action and deadline depend on the event.
No. A permanent move may qualify when you leave your plan's service area or when your new location gives you additional plan options. Temporary travel is not a qualifying permanent move. Medicare's standard moving SEP timing depends on whether the plan was notified before or after the move.
It may. Leaving employer or union coverage can create an opportunity to join a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, generally lasting two full months after the month that coverage ends.
It depends on your Medicaid status, the type of change you want to make, whether an integrated D-SNP is available, and current federal rules. Medicaid-related opportunities should be reviewed individually rather than treated as one universal rule.
Effective dates vary by enrollment period and situation. A licensed agent can help confirm the available effective date before an enrollment request is submitted.
No. The review has no charge, and scheduling a conversation does not require you to enroll.

More Medicare Resources

Something Changed. Find Out Whether You Can Change Your Medicare Coverage Now.

Bring the date of the event, your current coverage, and your ZIP code. A licensed agent will help you review the enrollment situation and, when applicable, the plans our agency represents in your area.

No charge. No obligation to enroll.

Eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period depends on your specific event, date, and plan. Benefits, features, costs, provider networks, drug formularies, and service areas vary by carrier, plan, and county and are subject to annual change. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.