Medicare Advantage

January 1 to March 31: Evansville Medicare Advantage Reset

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and something about it isn't sitting right, you have a second chance. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, and it gives current Advantage enrollees one opportunity to make a change before the year locks in.

This window is easy to miss because it comes right after the busier Annual Enrollment Period that ends December 7. But for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, it can be the difference between staying stuck and getting to a setup that actually fits.

What this enrollment window is — and isn't

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA OEP) is a narrower window than the fall Annual Enrollment Period. During the fall AEP (October 15–December 7), almost anyone with Medicare can make almost any change. The January-to-March window is more limited.

Here's the plain version: if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can use this window once to either switch to a different Advantage plan or drop your Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you go back to Original Medicare, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan at that time.

If you are in Original Medicare only on January 1, this window does not apply to you. You generally cannot use it to join an Advantage plan for the first time.

What you can — and can't — do

You can:

• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare.
• Join a Part D drug plan if you're returning to Original Medicare.

You cannot:

• Switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another (that had to be done in the fall).
• Join Medicare Advantage for the first time if you weren't already enrolled.
• Make more than one change during this window. Once your new choice takes effect, you're done until next fall.

Changes made during this period generally take effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

Why people use this window

The most common reason is a mismatch. A plan looked good on paper in November, but by February it's clear a needed doctor isn't in the network, a prescription isn't covered the way you expected, or the referral rules feel too tight. This is your chance to correct course without waiting until next January.

Another reason: life changed. Maybe you moved, or a specialist you now need doesn't accept your current plan.

A quick note on 2027 drug costs

Even if you're not making a change, it helps to know what applies in 2027. The Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 for covered drugs in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). The maximum Part D deductible is $700 in 2027. The old "donut hole" coverage gap has been eliminated, replaced with three simpler payment phases. If drug costs hit hard early in the year, ask about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the year in monthly installments.

Higher-income enrollees should also know that IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for single filers in 2026.

Local context for Evansville

Evansville is in Vanderburgh County, where Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That means the specific mix of plans a neighbor across the river or across the state can choose from may look different from yours. When you compare options on medicare.gov's Plan Finder, use your ZIP code so the results reflect what's actually offered where you live.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming this window is like the fall AEP. It isn't. You get one change, not several.
• Dropping your Advantage plan without a plan for drug coverage. If you return to Original Medicare and don't join a Part D plan, you could face a late enrollment penalty later.
• Waiting until the last week of March. Give yourself time to compare, ask questions, and get paperwork submitted.
• Relying on a friend's experience. Networks, formularies, and rules vary. What worked for a neighbor may not fit your doctors or medications.