Medicare Advantage

Mesa Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan–March Changes

People in Mesa can choose from 92 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 88 this year. 13 of this year’s plans are gone, 17 are new to Maricopa County, and 33 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 13 of them under a new name.

MESA, Ariz. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and it isn't the right fit, you have a second chance. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, and it gives people already in an Advantage plan one shot to change course before spring.

This window is smaller and stricter than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, but it can be a lifesaver for Mesa retirees who discovered in January that a preferred doctor is out of network, a needed medication is not covered, or the plan simply is not what they expected.

Who can use this window

This period is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If that describes you, you have one change you can make between now and March 31.

If you are in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and want to join an Advantage plan for the first time, this is not your window — you would generally need to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

What you can actually change

During January 1 – March 31, you can:

• Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare.
• If you return to Original Medicare, join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

What you cannot do in this window: switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another if you are already on Original Medicare, or make more than one Advantage change. You get one move.

Why the timing matters in Mesa

Mesa is in Maricopa County, which typically has a wide field of Medicare Advantage options from multiple carriers. That is helpful during a switch window, because it usually means real choices are available — but it also means comparing plans by network, drug list, and out-of-area coverage takes time. Snowbirds who split the year between Arizona and another state should pay special attention to how a plan handles care outside Maricopa County.

The official plan comparison tool at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code and prescriptions to see what is offered in your area.

New for 2027: what is different

Even if you keep your current setup, some Medicare rules have shifted in ways worth knowing:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: In 2026, what you pay out of pocket for covered prescription drugs is capped at $2,100 for the year.
• Part D deductible: The maximum allowed deductible for a Part D plan is $615 in 2026.
• No more donut hole: The coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can choose to spread your prescription drug costs across the year in monthly payments rather than paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay income-related surcharges on Part B and Part D. For a single filer in 2026, those surcharges begin above $109,000 in income.

How to make a smart switch

Before you change anything, do a short checklist:

1. Confirm your doctors and preferred hospitals are in the new plan's network. 2. Check that your prescriptions are on the new plan's formulary and understand which tier they fall into. 3. If you travel or spend part of the year elsewhere, ask how the plan covers care outside the service area. 4. Consider whether Original Medicare plus a stand-alone Part D plan (and possibly a Medigap policy) is a better fit for your situation.

Any change made during this window takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your request.

Where to get unbiased help

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to rely only on plan marketing to make a decision.

• Medicare.gov — plan finder, coverage rules, and enrollment.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
• Arizona SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — free, one-on-one Medicare counseling from trained volunteers, with no ties to any insurance company. Arizona's SHIP operates through the State Health Insurance Assistance & Assessment Program and can be reached at 1-800-432-4040.