How and When to Disenroll From Medicare

Updated June 4, 20268 min readReviewed against medicare.gov

"Disenrolling" can mean two different things: dropping a Medicare plan (Part D or Medicare Advantage) or leaving Medicare itself by dropping Part B. To drop premium Part B (or premium Part A), you must file a signed Form CMS-1763 with the Social Security Administration — usually by phone or at a local office, often with a short interview — and coverage ends the last day of the month after you file. To leave a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, you make the change during a specific enrollment window (such as Fall Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7). Before you drop anything, weigh the risk of permanent late-enrollment penalties if you ever want the coverage back.

"Disenrolling" Means Two Very Different Things

People say "disenroll from Medicare" to describe two situations that work in completely different ways. It helps to know which one applies to you before you start.

Dropping a plan means leaving a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D drug plan while keeping the rest of your Medicare. You do this during specific enrollment periods, and in most cases you switch to other coverage rather than going without.

Leaving Medicare means dropping Part B (medical insurance) — and sometimes premium Part A — so that the government stops billing you the premium. This is a bigger step. It requires a signed request to the Social Security Administration and can have lasting consequences if you ever come back.

The rest of this guide covers both. This is general educational information from an independent site, not government or legal advice; check the official sources listed at the end for your exact situation.

How to Drop Part B (Leaving Medicare)

To drop premium Part B, you must submit a signed request — Form CMS-1763, "Request for Termination of Premium Hospital and/or Supplementary Medical Insurance" — to the Social Security Administration. You generally cannot do this online. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office to start the process. Because dropping Part B is a serious decision, SSA often requires a short personal interview to make sure you understand the risks.

Timing matters. When you drop Part B, coverage ends on the last day of the month after the month you file the request. For example, if you file on April 5, your Part B coverage ends May 31.

Changed your mind? If you have asked to terminate Part B and then decide to keep it, you must send a request to cancel the termination before the date Part B is set to end. After that date, getting Part B back means waiting for an enrollment period and possibly paying a penalty.

Form: CMS-1763, sent to the Social Security Administration
How: by phone (1-800-772-1213) or at a local SSA office — usually not online
Interview: SSA often requires one to review the risks
Effective date: the last day of the month AFTER the month you file
Reversal: cancel the termination BEFORE the Part B end date

Can You Keep Part A If You Drop Part B?

It depends on whether you pay a premium for Part A.

If you have premium-free Part A — which most people earn after 40 quarters (about 10 years) of Medicare-covered work — you can keep Part A even after you drop Part B. People under 65 who qualify for Medicare through disability can also keep premium-free Part A.

If you are 65 or older and pay a monthly premium for Part A (because you have fewer work quarters), you cannot keep Part A if you drop Part B. In 2026, premium Part A costs $311 a month with 30–39 quarters of work, or $565 a month with fewer than 30 quarters.

How to Drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D Plan

Dropping a plan is more routine than leaving Medicare, but you can only do it during certain windows.

During Fall Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), you can drop a Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan, with the change taking effect January 1.

During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan you can make one change: switch to a different MA plan, or drop it and return to Original Medicare (and join a separate Part D plan). Coverage starts the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

To actually drop a plan, you can enroll in a new plan (which automatically disenrolls you from the old one), call the plan, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. If you return to Original Medicare and want drug coverage, remember to sign up for a stand-alone Part D plan during the same window so you don't have a gap.

Fall Open Enrollment: Oct 15 – Dec 7, effective Jan 1
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan 1 – Mar 31, one switch, effective the first of the next month
Joining a new plan usually disenrolls you from the old one automatically

The Penalties: Why Dropping Coverage Can Cost You Later

The biggest risk of disenrolling is the permanent late-enrollment penalty you may face if you want the coverage back later without a Special Enrollment Period.

Part B penalty: If you drop Part B and re-enroll later (outside a Special Enrollment Period), you pay an extra 10% of the Part B premium for each full 12-month period you were eligible but not enrolled — and you keep paying it for as long as you have Part B. You can usually only re-enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), with coverage starting the month after you sign up. In 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, with a $283 annual deductible, so penalties add up on top of those costs.

Part A penalty: If you have to pay a penalty for premium Part A after re-enrolling, you pay it for twice the number of years you went without Part A coverage.

Part D penalty: If you drop drug coverage and go 63 or more days in a row without other creditable drug coverage, you may owe a Part D late penalty when you rejoin. The penalty is 1% of the national base beneficiary premium ($38.99 in 2026) times the number of full months you went uncovered, rounded to the nearest $0.10, added to your premium for as long as you have Part D.

Part B: +10% of the premium per full 12 months eligible-but-not-enrolled, for life
Part B re-enrollment: General Enrollment Period, Jan 1 – Mar 31, coverage starts the next month
Part A (premium): penalty lasts twice the number of years you went without it
Part D: 1% × $38.99 × full uncovered months, rounded to nearest $0.10, for life

When Dropping Coverage Is Safe: Employer Plans and Creditable Coverage

You can often drop Medicare without a penalty if you have other coverage that the government recognizes.

Still working with employer coverage: A common reason to drop Part B (or delay it without penalty) is having current employer-based group health coverage. A Special Enrollment Period lets people in this situation re-enroll in Part B without a late penalty, typically within 8 months of losing the employer coverage. Important detail: this SEP applies to coverage from current employment, not to retiree coverage or COBRA. Confirm your situation with Social Security before you drop anything.

Creditable drug coverage: You can drop a Part D plan without a future penalty if you keep "creditable" prescription drug coverage — coverage that pays, on average, at least as much as standard Part D. This includes some employer or union plans, VA and TRICARE military coverage, qualified State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs), and certain Medigap drug policies. Your plan must tell you each year whether your coverage is creditable; keep those notices.

The safest move with any of these is to confirm in writing that your other coverage counts before you give up Medicare.

Frequently asked questions

Can I disenroll from Medicare online?

Generally no. To drop premium Part B (or premium Part A), you must file a signed Form CMS-1763 with the Social Security Administration, usually by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or at a local office, and SSA often requires a short interview first. Dropping a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan is different — you can often do that through Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE during an enrollment period.

When does my coverage actually end after I file to drop Part B?

Part B coverage ends the last day of the month after the month you file your request. For example, if you file on April 5, coverage ends May 31. If you change your mind, you must cancel the termination before that end date.

What will it cost me to get Medicare back after I drop it?

You resume the standard premiums — for Part B in 2026 that is $202.90 a month plus a $283 annual deductible — and you may owe permanent late-enrollment penalties. The Part B penalty is 10% of the premium for each full 12 months you were eligible but not enrolled, for as long as you have Part B. There can also be Part A and Part D penalties depending on your situation.

What's the difference between dropping a plan and disenrolling from Medicare entirely?

Dropping a plan means leaving a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan while keeping your underlying Medicare — you do this during set enrollment windows and usually switch to other coverage. Disenrolling from Medicare entirely means dropping Part B (and possibly premium Part A) so the government stops billing you, which requires Form CMS-1763 and can trigger lasting penalties if you return.

Can I drop Medicare without a penalty if I'm still working?

Often yes, if you have group health coverage from current employment. A Special Enrollment Period lets you drop and later re-enroll in Part B without a late penalty, typically within 8 months of losing that employer coverage. This does not apply to retiree coverage or COBRA, so confirm your situation with Social Security first.

Sources

Related guides

Enrollment & Eligibility

Medicare Enrollment Periods: IEP, GEP, AEP, and SEPs

Medicare Login Guide is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency. This article is for general information only — confirm current figures and your specific options at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.