Even if you’re satisfied with your current coverage, it still often makes sense to switch health insurance plans every year. Why? Well, the person you are today might be incredibly different than the person you were a year ago — maybe you had some health issues taken care of during the past year, and you expect a year of smooth sailing. Or maybe the opposite: You have more extensive health needs now, and may need a higher level of coverage. Maybe you had a baby and you need better protection. Maybe the cost of your coverage is increasing (some premiums will rise by as much as 51 percent next year!) and you don’t want to unnecessarily pay more.

You get the picture. Regardless of your situation, it’s always a good idea to re-shop for coverage during the annual Open Enrollment Period — which runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 in most states — so that you don’t miss out on better coverage or savings. Ready to get started? Enter your ZIP code below to get personalized plan recommendations in five minutes or less based on your most up-to-date health needs.

But after you find your new plan, how should you cancel your old plan? That depends on whether you’re new to Stride, which plan you’re leaving, and what your new plan is. Here, we’ll break down the steps you need to take depending on your situation.

Scenario 1: You’re new to Stride!

In other words, this is the first time you’re getting health insurance through Stride. Before we get started: Welcome! You’ve made a fantastic choice — Stride is a partner of HealthCare.gov, and the simplest way to find the best coverage for your unique needs.

Now let’s get started. In order to cancel your previous plan, call the contact number on the back of your current plan ID card and tell them you want to cancel your plan effective Jan. 1 **. Be sure to ask for a confirmation number to keep track of your records.

It might feel nerve-wracking to cancel your plan. But don’t worry — you won’t have any gaps in coverage. Your current plan will terminate at the end of December, and the new marketplace plan you find through Stride will begin on January 1 (as long as you submit your application by Dec. 15).

** If you bought your plan via Covered California last year, you'll need to sign into your account and click "Terminate Participation" under "Actions" on the right-hand side. If you bought your plan via HealthCare.gov last year, you'll just need to ensure that you provide us with the correct credentials so that we can update your plan choice this year.

Scenario 2: You got your current coverage through Stride, and now you’re selecting a different plan from the same health insurance company.

Just because you want a new plan from the same insurance company doesn’t mean that they’ll automatically cancel your current coverage for you. For example, if you previously had a Cigna Silver plan and you’re switching to a Cigna Bronze plan, you still have to call and terminate your old plan. 

So much like scenario 1, you’ll need to call the number on the back of your current plan ID card to let your insurance company know that you want to cancel your current plan, effective Jan. 1.

Scenario 3: You got your current coverage through Stride, and now you’re selecting a different plan from a different health insurance company.

Let’s say you had a Cigna plan last year, but now you want to switch to Blue Shield. You have a couple of options:

1. Similar to scenario 1, you can contact your health insurance company directly to cancel your plan effective Jan. 1.

2. Send us an email at support@stridehealth.com with your plan ID #. We’ll draft a cancellation letter for you, send it to you to electronically sign, and submit it on your behalf.

Changing plans is simple with Stride, and we’re happy to help you every step of the way. If you have more questions, give our support team a call at 415-930-9110 or send us an email to support@stridehealth.com. Otherwise, enter your ZIP code below to get your customized plan recommendations for the coming year.