MA Plans vs. Drug Plans

Because many MA Plans offer drug coverage, MA enrollees usually can’t join a Medicare drug plan. If MA enrollees whose plans include drug coverage join a Medicare drug plan, they are disenrolled from their MA Plans and returned to Original Medicare.

People who disenroll from an MA Plan and return to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) from January 1-February 14 each year may choose a new drug plan regardless of whether they had earlier Medicare drug coverage. Different rules apply to a Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan or an MA Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plan without drug coverage.

For more information about Medicare Advantage Plan enrollment periods, review the Understanding Medicare Advantage & Medicare Drug Plan Enrollment Periodspublication.