Medicare Advantage

Second Chance for Lodi: Your Jan.–March Medicare Do-Over

People in Lodi can choose from 39 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 44 this year. 14 of this year’s plans are gone, 9 are new to San Joaquin County, and 30 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 11 of them under a new name.

LODI, Calif. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during the fall and are already second-guessing that choice, take a breath. Starting January 1, a separate window called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you until March 31 to make one change. It is a narrower door than the fall enrollment period, but for Lodi residents who feel stuck with the wrong plan, it can be a real relief.

This is not the same as the Annual Enrollment Period that ran October 15 through December 7. This one is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, and it lets you make just one switch.

What you can do between January 1 and March 31

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period lets you make one of the following moves:

• Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
• If you go back to Original Medicare, you can also join a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

The change takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request. So if you switch in January, your new coverage generally starts February 1.

What you cannot do in this window

This is where people in Lodi sometimes get tripped up. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is not a full reset of every choice. During this window, you cannot:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
• Join a stand-alone Part D plan if you are staying on a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Make more than one change. Once you switch, the door closes until the next enrollment period.

If you are on Original Medicare on January 1 and want to move into Medicare Advantage, you would generally have to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Why this window exists

Medicare Advantage plans can differ a lot in their doctor networks, prescription drug lists, and rules for referrals or prior authorization. Some people do not spot a problem until they actually try to use their coverage in January — a specialist is out of network, or a prescription is not covered the way they expected. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is meant to be a safety valve for exactly that kind of surprise.

Program-level changes to know for 2027

A few Medicare-wide updates are worth keeping in mind as you weigh whether to switch:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• Part D deductible: The maximum allowed Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027, though individual plans may set it lower.
• No more "donut hole": The old coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: This optional program lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay an extra amount for Part B and Part D. In 2026, IRMAA surcharges start above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

What Lodi residents should check before switching

Lodi is in San Joaquin County, where the number of Medicare Advantage plans available is set at the county level. Before making any change during the Open Enrollment Period, it helps to:

1. Make a list of your doctors, hospitals, and regular prescriptions. 2. Compare each option's drug list, network, and rules for referrals. 3. Confirm whether your preferred pharmacies in the Lodi area are in-network. 4. Think about the total picture — premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums — not just one number.

Star Ratings, published by Medicare, are one more tool. They rate plans on quality and member experience from 1 to 5 stars. They are meant as a reference point, not a scorecard that picks a plan for you.

Where to get unbiased help

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to pay anyone to help.

• Medicare.gov has a plan finder that shows the plans available in your ZIP code.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is open 24/7.
• California's SHIP program is called HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program). HICAP counselors offer free, one-on-one help and serve San Joaquin County residents, including Lodi.