If you have ESRD (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant) and you are in the Original Medicare Plan, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. You generally can’t join a Medicare Advantage Plan. However, if you are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can stay in it or join another plan offered by the same company in the same state that includes Medicare drug coverage. Also, if you are a member of a health plan (like through a former employer or union) offered by the same company that offers one or more Medicare Advantage Plans, you may be able to join a Medicare Advantage Plan offered by that company. If you’ve had a successful kidney transplant, you may be able to join a Medicare Advantage Plan.
If you have ESRD and are in a Medicare Advantage Plan and the plan leaves Medicare or no longer provides coverage in your area, you have a one-time right to join another Medicare Advantage Plan. You don’t have to use your one-time right to join a new plan immediately. If you change directly to the Original Medicare Plan after your plan leaves or stops providing coverage, you will still have a one-time right to join a Medicare Advantage Plan at a later date as long as the plan is accepting new members.
You may also be able to join a Medicare Advantage Plan called a Medicare Special Needs Plan for people with ESRD if one is available in your area.
