Free DPC planner

Plan your Medicare opt-out dates before you file.

Enter the date your opt-out affidavit takes effect and whether this is your first opt-out. The planner shows your 2-year opt-out period, the date it renews on its own, the last day to send written notice if you want to stop that renewal, and, for a first-time opt-out, the end of the 90-day window to terminate it early.

Opt-out planner

The starting date is an example. Enter your own.

Date your affidavit takes effect42 CFR 405.410 sets this date, and it depends on your enrollment status. Confirm it with your Medicare Administrative Contractor before you plan around it.

Is this your first time opting out of Medicare?

Are you a participating Medicare provider, or have you billed Medicare recently?

How it works

Every date comes from the effective date you enter, using the rules in 42 CFR part 405 subpart D.

Opt-out period = the effective date through the day before its 2-year anniversary. The renewal date is the 2-year anniversary, when a new 2-year period starts automatically.

Cancel-by date = the last day of the period minus 30 days. 42 CFR 405.445 requires written notice at least 30 days before the period ends to keep it from renewing.

Early termination date = the effective date plus 90 days, shown only for a first-time opt-out, since 42 CFR 405.445 limits early termination to a physician or practitioner who has not opted out before.

The effective date itself is set by 42 CFR 405.410 and depends on whether you participate in Medicare. The planner asks you to enter it rather than working it out. For the full conversion plan, read how to convert a practice to direct primary care. This is a planning aid, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Medicare opt-out last?

An opt-out period lasts 2 years from the date the affidavit takes effect. Under 42 CFR part 405 subpart D it renews automatically for another 2 years unless you act to stop it.

How do I stop a Medicare opt-out from renewing?

Send written notice to your Medicare Administrative Contractor at least 30 days before the end of the current opt-out period, as 42 CFR 405.445 requires. If the notice arrives later, the opt-out renews for another 2 years.

Can I cancel a Medicare opt-out early?

Only if it is your first opt-out. 42 CFR 405.445 lets a physician or practitioner who has not opted out before terminate the opt-out within 90 days of its effective date. Read the rule for what early termination requires.

When does my opt-out affidavit take effect?

42 CFR 405.410 sets the effective date, and it differs for participating and nonparticipating providers. This planner does not guess it. Read the rule, confirm the date with your contractor, then enter it.