Medicare Advantage

March 31 Deadline for Medicare Advantage Changes in Fort Smith

FORT SMITH, Ark. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and are second-guessing that choice, the calendar is on your side. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you one more chance to change course — but only if you already have a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. Miss the March 31 deadline, and in most cases your next opening won't come until fall.

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Senior using laptop at table in Fort Smith — illustrating this Medicare guide — Photo: Naitian（Tony） Wang Photo by Naitian（Tony） Wang on Unsplash

By The Medicare Desk · Medicare Education Desk

Published 2026-09-17·Updated 2026-09-29·9 min read·✓ Reviewed·● Fort Smith, AR

Key takeaways

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year and is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
You get one switch during this window — either to a different Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare (with the option to add a Part D plan).
If you miss March 31, your next general chance to change plans is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
For personal help in Sebastian County, call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit medicare.gov, or contact Arkansas SHIIP, the state's free counseling program.

What this window is — and what it isn't

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA-OEP) is a narrow, three-month door. According to CMS, it lets people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1 make one change during the January 1 – March 31 window.

It is not the same as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) that just closed on December 7. It is also not open to everyone. If you're still on Original Medicare only, this window does not apply to you.

The two moves you're allowed to make

During MA-OEP, you may do one of the following once:

Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. If you do that, you can also join a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

That's it. You cannot use this window to move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan, and you cannot use it to join a stand-alone Part D plan unless you're leaving Medicare Advantage at the same time.

Whatever change you make takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

How the dates interact — a Fort Smith timeline

Think of the Medicare year as a set of doors that open and close on specific dates:

October 15 – December 7 (AEP): Open to everyone with Medicare. Broadest set of changes allowed. Coverage begins January 1.
January 1 – March 31 (MA-OEP): Open only to current Medicare Advantage enrollees. One change allowed.
The rest of the year: Generally closed, unless a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) applies — for example, if you move out of your plan's service area, lose other coverage, or qualify for Extra Help or Medicaid.

Fort Smith is in Sebastian County, where plan choices are set at the county level. If you've moved into or out of Sebastian County recently, that move itself may open an SEP separate from these calendar windows.

What happens if you miss March 31

If March 31 slips by and none of the SEP situations apply, you are generally locked into your current Medicare Advantage plan until the next Annual Enrollment Period. That new choice, made between October 15 and December 7, wouldn't take effect until January 1 of the following year.

That's the main reason to look at your plan paperwork now, while you still have time. Check the "Annual Notice of Change" your plan mailed this fall — it spells out what's different for 2027, including any changes to your drug list, provider network, or cost-sharing rules.

A few program facts worth knowing for 2027

Some numbers that apply program-wide, no matter which plan you're weighing:

The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once your drug spending hits that ceiling, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs the rest of the year.
The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
The old coverage gap (the "donut hole") was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Where to get unbiased help

Before you switch, price out the full picture: premiums, the drugs you actually take, and whether your doctors are in the network. The Plan Finder at medicare.gov compares plans available in Sebastian County side by side. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), open 24/7.

For free, one-on-one counseling from someone who does not sell insurance, contact Arkansas SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program), the State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Arkansas.

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 Sebastian County

50% are on Medicare Advantage
(MA penetration in Sebastian County)

50%

Medicare Advantage Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Original Medicare only

U.S. average

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.

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See Medicare options serving Fort Smith & speak with a licensed agent

Medicare Advantage companies in Sebastian County

By local enrollment size · informational, not a ranking

Company	Local enrollment	Plans offered	Local agents
HumanaNational	46%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
UnitedHealthcareNational	30%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Aetna (CVS Health)National	13%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Usable Mutual Insurance CompanyRegional	6%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Centene (WellCare)National	3%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)Regional	1%of MA enrollment	—	Yes

Prefer to talk? Speak with a licensed agent

Enrollment data: CMS Medicare Advantage enrollment by company (county level). Figures shown are illustrative sample data pending the current CMS file. Listed by enrollment size, largest first — this is not a ranking, recommendation, or endorsement of any company or plan.

Provided by licensed insurance partners; MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated. Not a ranking or endorsement of any plan.

Explore

When can you enroll? An interactive year

JFMAMJJASOND

October 15 – December 7 — anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.

Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.

Explore

The parts of Medicare

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the January–March window to join Medicare Advantage for the first time?

No. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is only for people who already have a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you're on Original Medicare and want to move into Medicare Advantage, you generally have to wait for the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

If I switch plans in February, when does the new coverage start?

Changes made during MA-OEP take effect the first day of the month after your new plan receives your enrollment. So a February switch typically starts March 1, and a March switch typically starts April 1.

What if I move out of Fort Smith mid-year?

Moving to a new address that isn't in your plan's service area usually triggers a Special Enrollment Period, separate from the January–March window. You generally have up to two months after the move to make a change. Confirm the details with 1-800-MEDICARE or Arkansas SHIIP.

Does this window let me change my Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy?

No. Medigap has its own rules, set largely by state law and by the timing of your initial enrollment in Part B. If you're returning to Original Medicare and want to add a Medigap policy, ask a SHIIP counselor about your options and any medical underwriting that may apply. ## Before you decide The safest move is the informed one. Read the notices your current plan sent you, list the drugs and doctors that matter most, and compare on medicare.gov or with a SHIIP counselor before March 31. The window closes quietly — there's no second reminder.

Sources & further reading

CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)

For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.

Also for Fort Smith

Medicare Supplement in Fort Smith Medicare Part D in Fort Smith

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This page was last updated: September 29, 2026.