Medicare Advantage
Cambridge Medicare Advantage enrollees: the one-switch window that runs through March 31
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — If you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan during this fall's Annual Enrollment Period and then wonder if you made the right choice, you will still have room to move. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, and it gives people already in an Advantage plan a second look before their 2027 coverage locks in for the rest of the year.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 and is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1.
- You can make one switch during this window: change to a different Advantage plan, or drop Advantage and return to Original Medicare with or without a stand-alone Part D plan.
- You cannot use this window to move from Original Medicare into an Advantage plan for the first time, and you cannot pick up a stand-alone Part D plan unless you are leaving Advantage.
- Any change you make takes effect the first day of the month after your new plan gets the enrollment.
This window is narrower than the fall one, and it comes with its own rules. Here is what Cambridge residents can — and cannot — do between now and March 31.
Who this window is for
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (sometimes called MA OEP) is for people who already have a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. If that's you, you get one chance to change your mind between January 1 and March 31.
If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and a stand-alone Part D drug plan, this window does not apply to you. Your main chance to change Part D was the fall Annual Enrollment Period, which ran October 15 through December 7.
What you can change
During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, you can:
- 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 drug plan at the same time.
You can only make one change during this window. Once your switch is processed, the door closes until the next Annual Enrollment Period in the fall — unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period because of a life event like moving or losing other coverage.
What you cannot change
This window is more limited than fall enrollment. You cannot:
- Move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you are staying on Original Medicare.
- Switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another.
You also cannot use this window to buy a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy with guaranteed acceptance. Massachusetts has its own Medigap rules that differ from most states, so if you are thinking about returning to Original Medicare and adding a Medigap plan, it is worth calling to ask what you qualify for before you drop your Advantage plan.
How to decide whether to switch
A few questions can help you think it through:
- Are your doctors still in-network? Provider networks can change from year to year. Cambridge residents often use hospitals and specialists across Middlesex County and Boston, so it's worth checking each one.
- Are your prescriptions still covered the way you expected? Drug formularies change every January. If a medication moved to a higher tier, your share of the cost may look different this year.
- Does the plan still fit how you actually use care? If you rarely leave the area, a local network may feel fine. If you travel or split time elsewhere, that matters.
- Are you hitting the Part D changes? The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The old coverage gap is gone — replaced by three simpler phases. The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly bills instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy.
Plan availability in the Cambridge area
Cambridge is in Middlesex County, where Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level by CMS. That means the menu of plans you can choose from is the same for every Middlesex County resident, whether you live in Cambridge, Somerville, or Framingham. You can see the full county list on medicare.gov's plan finder.
When your change takes effect
If you switch during this window, your new coverage starts the first day of the month after the plan receives your enrollment. So a change filed in February typically starts March 1. Your old plan ends the day before the new one begins — there is no gap and no overlap.
Where to get unbiased help
- medicare.gov — compare plans available in Middlesex County using the official Plan Finder.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
- SHINE (Massachusetts' SHIP program) — free, confidential counseling from trained volunteers who do not sell insurance. You can reach SHINE through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs or by calling 1-800-243-4636.
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 Middlesex County
(MA penetration in Middlesex 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 use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period to join an Advantage plan for the first time?
How many times can I switch between January 1 and March 31?
If I drop my Medicare Advantage plan, can I add a Part D drug plan?
Does anything change if I have Medicaid or Extra Help?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Cambridge
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This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.