Medicare Advantage
How Newark Members Can Change Medicare Advantage Plans
NEWARK, Del. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during fall enrollment and are having second thoughts, you still have time to change course. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives current Advantage members a second chance to adjust their coverage for the year.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 each year, giving current Medicare Advantage members a chance to change their coverage.
- Only people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1 can use this window, not people with only Original Medicare or a standalone Part D plan.
- This period is different from the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 through December 7 and is open to anyone with Medicare.
- Checking details like plan networks and drug coverage before switching can help you decide if a change makes sense for how you use care.
Here's what this window is, what you can do during it, and what it won't let you do.
What the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period actually is
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period — sometimes shortened to MA-OEP — runs every year from January 1 to March 31. It exists for one reason: to give people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan a chance to fix things if their plan isn't working out.
Maybe your doctor isn't in the network after all. Maybe a medication you take is not covered the way you expected. Maybe the plan simply isn't the right fit. This window gives you a do-over.
It is not the same as the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), when anyone with Medicare can make changes. The January-through-March window is narrower in who it helps and what it allows.
Who can use this window
You can use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period if, as of January 1, you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
You cannot use it if you only have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), with or without a standalone Part D drug plan. For those readers, this window is not the time to make changes — the fall Annual Enrollment Period is.
What you can change — and what you can't
During January 1 – March 31, if you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can:
- 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 standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
What you cannot do during this window:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Join a standalone Part D plan if you're staying on Original Medicare and didn't have drug coverage before.
- Make more than one change. You get one switch during this period, and it takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.
Why 2027 makes this window worth a second look
A few program-level changes are worth knowing about as you weigh your options for the year ahead:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D deductible maxes out at $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 — plans can set a lower deductible but not a higher one.
- The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") is gone. As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to join.
- IRMAA surcharges (the higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income beneficiaries) start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
If your current plan didn't line up with how you actually use care in January, these are the kinds of details worth checking before you switch.
What's available around Newark
Newark is in New Castle County, where Medicare beneficiaries have a range of Medicare Advantage plans and carriers to choose from. Plan availability, networks, drug formularies, and extras vary by plan and by county — which is why the official Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the right place to compare specifics for your ZIP code.
If you'd rather talk it through with a human, Delaware's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), called ELDERinfo, offers free, unbiased counseling. They don't sell plans and they don't earn commissions.
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 New Castle County
(MA penetration in New Castle 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
Q: I have Original Medicare and want to join a Medicare Advantage plan. Can I do that now?
Q: If I switch plans in February, when does the new plan start?
Q: Can I change my mind twice — switch in January and again in March?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.