The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (January 1 through February 14 of each year) allows an individual on a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO) to leave a Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare (Part A and B) by signing up for a stand-alone drug plan. By making the change to be on Original Medicare, the individual would then be responsible for the copays/coinsurances that Original Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover.
After making this choice, the next opportunity for an individual to return to a Medicare Advantage Plan will not be available again until Annual Enrollment (October 15 thru December 7) and will not be effective until January 1st.
If, after making the switch onto Medicare Part A and B only and a stand-alone drug plan, an individual would like add a Medicare Supplement plan to cover the copays/coinsurances not covered by Original Medicare, they would have to undergo health history underwriting required by the Medicare Supplement insurance carrier that they select. Medicare Supplement insurance carriers can decline to cover an applicant based on his/her health history.
Please Note: The Disenrollment period does not allow for a change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan. Nor does it allow for a change from one stand-alone drug plan to another stand-alone drug plan.