If I Move to Another State, Can I Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan and Then Switch to a Different One Within 60 Days?

Short answer: A permanent move out of your plan's service area gives you a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), but that SEP is generally a one-time election - not a window that lets you enroll in one plan and then freely switch to another. To make a second change, you'll usually need a separate qualifying event or one of the standard enrollment periods.

The move Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

When you permanently move to a new address where your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan isn't available - or where new plan options become available - you qualify for the SEP for a change in residence. When it starts depends on when you tell your plan:

• If you notify your plan before you move: the SEP begins the month before your move and runs through the 2 full months after the month you move.
• If you notify your plan after you move: the SEP begins the month you notify them and runs through the 2 full months after that.

The "60 days" people often mention is roughly this two-month tail. It's tied to your move (or notification) date, not a flat 60-day countdown. When you pick a new plan, you can choose an effective date up to three months after the month you submit the enrollment.

Can I enroll in one plan and then switch to another during that window?

Generally, no. The move SEP is designed to give you one enrollment choice. Once you use it to elect a plan, that SEP is considered used, so enrolling in Plan A and then jumping to Plan B while still inside the window isn't something this SEP reliably allows.

How to make a second change

If you've already used your move SEP and want to change plans again, you'll typically need one of these:

• Another qualifying SEP - for example, if you also qualify under a separate category (such as Medicaid/Extra Help eligibility, or another life event).
• The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1 - Mar 31) - lets a current MA enrollee make one switch, with the change effective the first of the following month.
• The Annual Election Period (Oct 15 - Dec 7) - for a January 1 effective date.

The bottom line

Treat the move SEP as a single election. Because CMS applies these rules case by case and they carry compliance weight, confirm the member's specific situation with the carrier or CMS (1-800-MEDICARE) before advising anyone to enroll and then switch.

This information is for general educational purposes and is current as of 2026. Enrollment rules can change, so always verify with the plan or CMS.