Medicare Advantage

Medicare Deadlines in Scottsdale: What to Know for 2027

For 2027, Scottsdale 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.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With 79 Medicare Advantage plans available in Maricopa County for 2027, Scottsdale residents have a lot to sort through — but the calendar is what really decides your options. Miss a key window, and even the widest menu of plans can shrink to almost nothing.

This guide walks through the enrollment periods that matter most, what happens if you let one pass, and how the dates fit together.

Your first deadline: the Initial Enrollment Period

If you are turning 65 in Scottsdale, your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven-month window: the three months before your 65th birthday month, the birthday month itself, and the three months after.

This is when most people first sign up for Part A and Part B. It is also when you can first join a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D drug plan without needing a special reason.

Miss it, and you may have to wait for a General Enrollment Period — and you could owe a Part B late-enrollment penalty that stays with you for as long as you have Medicare.

The Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7

This is the big one. From October 15 through December 7, anyone with Medicare can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.

Whatever you choose during AEP takes effect January 1, 2027. With 79 Advantage plans available in Maricopa County, don't wait until early December — carriers release their 2027 details in early October, and the sooner you start comparing, the calmer the choice.

Worth noting: Arizona has 9 stand-alone Part D plans for 2027, sold statewide, so anyone in Maricopa County with Original Medicare can join one of them, and drug coverage locally also comes bundled inside Medicare Advantage plans (MA-PD). Confirm your own situation at medicare.gov before making a change.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31

Signed up during AEP and had second thoughts? You get one more shot.

From January 1 through March 31, people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to a different Advantage plan or drop it and return to Original Medicare (and pick up a stand-alone drug plan if one is available to them).

You only get one change during this window, and it is not open to people who stayed on Original Medicare — they must wait for the next AEP.

Special Enrollment Periods: when life changes the rules

Some life events unlock a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) outside the normal windows. Common triggers include:

• Moving out of your plan's service area (for example, leaving Scottsdale for another state).
• Losing employer or union coverage.
• Qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid.
• Your plan leaving the Medicare program or changing its contract.

SEPs usually last two to three months from the qualifying event. If you think one applies to you, call 1-800-MEDICARE before assuming — the exact rules depend on the trigger.

What's new for 2027 that affects your timing

A few program-level changes make this fall's deadlines even more worth watching:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments. You can opt in through your plan.
• IRMAA income surcharges for higher earners begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

None of these change the enrollment dates, but they may change how you weigh your options during the window.

If you miss a deadline

Missing AEP is not the end of the world, but it does limit you. Unless you qualify for an SEP or are still in your Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment window, you will generally have to wait until the next AEP for changes to take effect the following January.

Late Part B enrollment can add 10% to your premium for each 12-month period you could have signed up but did not. Late Part D enrollment adds roughly 1% of the national base premium for every month you went without creditable drug coverage. Both penalties are typically lifetime.

Where to get personalized help

Comparing 79 Advantage plans is a lot for anyone. Free, unbiased help is available:

• Medicare.gov — the official Plan Finder lets you enter your ZIP code and drugs.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — open 24/7.
• Arizona SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — free one-on-one counseling for Arizona residents at 1-800-432-4040.