Medicare Advantage
Honolulu Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period Explained
Honolulu County has 29 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 4 plans are not coming back, 5 are new, and 13 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 3 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Honolulu, not which plan to pick.
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HONOLULU — If you woke up on January 1 with a Medicare Advantage plan that no longer fits, you are not stuck with it until next fall. A three-month window — the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which runs January 1 through March 31 — gives you one chance to change course before the year settles in.
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year and lets you make one change if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) is the broader window when almost anyone with Medicare can make changes.
- If you miss both windows, you generally have to wait until the next AEP unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- Honolulu is in Honolulu County, and residents can get free, unbiased help from Hawaii SHIP before making a change.
This article is about the timing. Which dates apply, what happens if you miss one, and how these windows fit together so a small scheduling mistake does not lock you into the wrong coverage for a year.
What the January–March window is actually for
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA OEP) is narrower than people think. According to CMS, it is only for people who already had a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1.
During those three months you may:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare (Parts A and B), and then add a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you want prescription coverage.
You get one change during this window. Once you use it, the door closes until the next opportunity.
What it is not for
This is where readers most often get tripped up. The January–March window does not let you:
- Join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you were in Original Medicare on January 1.
- Switch from one stand-alone Part D drug plan to another if you are staying with Original Medicare.
- Sign up for a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy with guaranteed acceptance. Medigap has its own rules, and in most states — Hawaii included — insurers can consider your health outside your initial Medigap window.
If any of those describe your situation, the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or a Special Enrollment Period is usually the right door.
How the dates fit together
Think of the Medicare year as having two regular windows and a set of "if this happens" windows:
- October 15 – December 7 — Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). The big one. Almost anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Changes take effect January 1.
- January 1 – March 31 — Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. A do-over for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan. Changes take effect the first of the month after the plan gets your request.
- Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Triggered by life events — moving out of your plan's service area, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid, and more. These can happen any time of year.
The dates matter because they don't overlap in the way people assume. A change you could make freely on December 6 might not be allowed on January 6.
If you miss the window
If March 31 passes and none of the SEP triggers apply to you, you generally wait until October 15 to make changes for the following year. That is the honest answer, and it is why marking these dates on a calendar matters more than any single plan comparison.
A couple of practical notes for 2027 that may affect whether a change is worth making:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once your drug spending hits that ceiling, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
- 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 can change whether your current plan still makes sense.
Getting unbiased help in Honolulu
Honolulu is in Honolulu County, which — like the rest of Hawaii — has a healthy number of Medicare Advantage and Part D options for 2027: 26 Medicare Advantage plans from 7 carriers in the county, with 5 new plans, 4 not returning, and 3 renamed. Sorting through them on your own can be a lot.
Two free, unbiased places to start:
- Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, which lets you enter your ZIP code and your prescriptions.
- Hawaii SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), staffed by trained counselors who do not sell plans.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
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 Honolulu County
(MA penetration in Honolulu 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
Can I join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time between January and March?
When does my change take effect if I switch in February?
Can I change my stand-alone Part D drug plan during the January–March window?
What counts as a Special Enrollment Period?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Honolulu
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This page was last updated: October 1, 2026.