Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment in Phoenix: Jan 1–Mar 31
For 2027, Phoenix is looking at 92 Medicare Advantage plans: 17 new, 13 gone since 2026, and 33 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 13 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Maricopa County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.
Compare Medicare Advantage options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Advantage listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
This affects which Medicare Advantage options you can choose.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.
One call tells you whether your plan is on the list — before enrollment opens.
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
Want to see more plan options?
Answer a few more questions to continue to additional options from licensed partners.
Continue →Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240Found a plan you like online?
One free call confirms it's actually right for you — online directories are wrong more often than you'd think.
- Your doctors — confirmed in-network for 2027
- Your prescriptions — checked against the plan's 2027 drug tiers
855-729-3240 · free · about 5 minutes
PHOENIX — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during the fall and now you're having second thoughts, you have a second chance. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you one shot to change course before your choice is locked in for the rest of 2027.
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, and only people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can use it.
- You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan.
- You get one change during this window — once it takes effect, you generally cannot switch again until the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7).
- If you miss both windows, you usually have to wait for the next AEP unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
This window is easy to miss. It gets far less attention than the Annual Enrollment Period in the fall, but for many Phoenix-area retirees it is the difference between being stuck with a plan that isn't working and getting into one that fits.
Who this window is for
The January-to-March window is specifically for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) with or without a stand-alone Part D drug plan, this window is not for you — you would need to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Phoenix is in Maricopa County, where a large number of Medicare Advantage plans are offered. That variety is helpful in the fall when you're comparing choices, but it can also make an early-year second look worthwhile if the plan you picked doesn't match how you actually use care.
What you can change between January 1 and March 31
According to CMS, during this window you can do one of the following:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare. If you do that, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
What you cannot do in this window:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you are staying on Original Medicare and weren't already enrolled in one.
- Make more than one change. Once your switch takes effect, that's your plan for the year unless a Special Enrollment Period opens up.
How the dates fit together
Think of the Medicare calendar as two main windows that back each other up:
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. This is the big one. Anyone with Medicare can join, drop or change a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. A do-over — but only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, and only one change.
A change you make in February typically takes effect the first day of the following month. So if you switch on February 10, your new coverage generally starts March 1. Do not stop using your current plan until the new coverage is active.
What happens if you miss both windows
If neither window applies to you, you usually have to wait until the next AEP in the fall. There are exceptions — called Special Enrollment Periods — for life events such as:
- Moving out of your plan's service area (for example, moving away from Maricopa County).
- Losing other coverage, like employer or union health benefits.
- Qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid.
- Your plan leaving Medicare or ending its contract.
If you think one of these applies to you, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to confirm. Do not assume — the rules for Special Enrollment Periods are specific.
A few tips before you switch
- Check your drugs. If prescriptions are a big part of your budget, make sure any plan you're considering covers the specific medications you take. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the coverage gap is gone — but formularies still vary plan to plan.
- Check your doctors. Medicare Advantage plans use networks. Confirm your Phoenix providers and preferred hospitals are in-network before you switch.
- Ask about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
- Don't switch just because you got a mailer. Marketing picks up in January. Compare plans on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder or with a neutral counselor.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Maricopa County
(MA penetration in Maricopa County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the January-to-March window to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time?
How many changes can I make during the January-to-March window?
When would my new coverage start if I switch in February?
Where can I get help comparing plans in Phoenix?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Phoenix
Content Integrity Standards
- No invented figures. Program-level numbers come from CMS / Medicare.gov; we never use placeholder data.
- No plan rankings or recommendations. This is educational content. We don't rank, score, or recommend specific plans.
- AI-assisted, human-reviewed. Articles are produced with AI-assisted tools and reviewed by the responsible desk before publishing.
- Inline sourcing. Facts and figures are cited to primary sources — CMS, SSA, and Medicare.gov.
- Correction transparency. We fix errors openly and note when a page was last updated.
- Not a government site. MyMedicarePlans.org is privately owned and not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
This page was last updated: October 1, 2026.