Medicare Advantage
The One Plan Change Tampa Medicare Advantage Members Get
Hillsborough County has 124 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 29 plans are not coming back, 20 are new, and 51 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 19 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Tampa, not which plan to pick.
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TAMPA, Fla. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and the fit isn't quite right, you have a second chance this winter. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period lets people already enrolled in an Advantage plan make one change — and for Tampa residents sorting through a busy local market, that window can be a real relief.
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31 and is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- You can make one change during this window: switch to a different Advantage plan or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare (with or without a standalone Part D plan).
- You cannot use this period to join an Advantage plan for the first time if you're currently in Original Medicare.
- Tampa is in Hillsborough County, where many Advantage plans are offered — comparing options on medicare.gov or with a local SHIP counselor can help you match a plan to your doctors and prescriptions.
This period is different from the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7). It's narrower in who it helps and what it allows, but for the right person at the right moment, it's a valuable reset button.
Who this period is for
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is designed for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. That includes anyone who joined an Advantage plan during the fall enrollment window and, after using it in January, realizes the network, drug list, or referral rules aren't a good match.
If you're in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on January 1, this period doesn't apply to you. You'd generally need to wait for the next Annual Enrollment Period in the fall, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
What you can change
During this window, you can do one of the following, one time:
- Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. If you do, you can also join a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
You cannot use this period to switch from one standalone Part D plan to another if you're staying in Original Medicare, and you can't join an Advantage plan for the first time from Original Medicare. Those moves belong to other enrollment windows.
Why Tampa residents may want to take a fresh look
Tampa is in Hillsborough County, where a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans are available. That's good news for choice, but it also means the plan that looked best on paper in October may not feel like the best fit once you try to book a specialist at a local hospital system or fill a prescription at your neighborhood pharmacy.
Common reasons Tampa-area readers reconsider a plan in January include:
- A preferred doctor or specialist is not in the plan's network.
- A regularly used prescription isn't covered, or requires prior authorization.
- Referral or authorization rules feel more restrictive than expected.
- Extra benefits advertised turned out to have limits that don't match how you'd actually use them.
2027 program facts worth knowing
Even though this period is about Advantage plan changes, drug coverage is often the deciding factor. A few program-level facts for 2027:
- Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered prescriptions in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") has been eliminated as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread covered drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
These rules apply program-wide, whether your drug coverage comes through a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage or a standalone Part D plan.
How to make a change
Before switching, gather your current member ID, a list of your prescriptions with dosages, and the names of the doctors and hospitals you want to keep using. Then:
- Use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare plans available in Hillsborough County.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
- Contact SHINE, Florida's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), for free, unbiased one-on-one help. You can reach SHINE through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
Any change you make during this period generally takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your request.
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 Hillsborough County
(MA penetration in Hillsborough 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
When does the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period end?
Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans more than once during this window?
If I drop my Advantage plan, will I automatically have drug coverage?
Where can Tampa residents get free, local help?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Tampa
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This page was last updated: October 1, 2026.