Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: What Joliet Can Change by March 31
JOLIET, Ill. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and it isn't fitting the way you hoped, you still have time to make one change. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31, and it gives people already in an Advantage plan a second look before their coverage is locked in for the rest of the year.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs Jan. 1 – March 31 and is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1.
- You can make one change during this window: switch to a different Advantage plan, or drop your Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (with the option to add a stand-alone Part D plan).
- This is not a second chance to join Medicare Advantage from Original Medicare, and it is not for picking up a stand-alone Part D plan on its own.
- The Part D out-of-pocket drug cost cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the Part D deductible cannot exceed $615 in 2026 or $700 in 2027 — useful numbers to weigh when you compare drug coverage.
This window is different from the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and it has narrower rules. Here's what Joliet-area residents can — and can't — do between now and the end of March.
Who this window is for
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, sometimes shortened to MA-OEP, is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you are in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and want to join an Advantage plan for the first time this year, this is not your window — that decision usually has to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time when you aged into Medicare, you may also have a separate trial right. A counselor can walk you through whether that applies to you.
What you can change between Jan. 1 and March 31
During MA-OEP, you can do one of the following:
- Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare. If you do this, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
That's it. You get one change, and it takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.
What you cannot do in this window
A few common misunderstandings trip people up every year:
- You can't use MA-OEP to move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan.
- You can't use it to join or switch a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying in Original Medicare with no change.
- Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policies follow separate rules set by the state and by insurers. If you drop an Advantage plan and want a Medigap policy, you may or may not have guaranteed acceptance depending on your situation — ask before you cancel.
Why some Joliet residents take a second look now
Joliet is in Will County, where a broad set of Medicare Advantage plans are offered each year. Plan networks, drug lists (formularies), and prior-authorization rules can shift from one plan year to the next, and the letter your plan sent last fall — the Annual Notice of Change — spells out what's different for 2027.
If your doctor is no longer in network, if a medication you rely on has moved to a higher tier, or if a service you use now needs approval it didn't need before, MA-OEP is your chance to react.
It's also worth knowing the program-wide numbers for 2027 as you compare:
- Part D out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs is capped at $2,400 for the year in 2027.
- The Part D deductible cannot be more than $700 in 2027.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone; Part D now has three phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly amounts instead of paying large sums at the pharmacy counter. You have to opt in.
- IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
How to make a change the right way
Before you switch or drop a plan:
1. Pull out your Annual Notice of Change and your plan's 2027 formulary. 2. List your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions, and check them against any plan you're considering. 3. Use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare options in Will County side by side. 4. If you're leaving Advantage for Original Medicare, decide up front how you'll handle drug coverage and whether Medigap is realistic for you. 5. Make the change through Medicare or directly with the plan. Keep confirmation numbers.
Free, unbiased help is available locally through the Illinois SHIP program (Senior Health Insurance Program), which does not sell insurance.
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 Will County
(MA penetration in Will 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 join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time during this window?
If I drop my Advantage plan, how do I get drug coverage?
Where can I get personal help in Joliet?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Joliet
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This page was last updated: September 29, 2026.