Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: What Lincoln Can Change by March 31

For 2027, Lincoln is looking at 41 Medicare Advantage plans: 18 new, 18 gone since 2026, and 11 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 4 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Lancaster County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Between January 1 and March 31, people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan have a second window to make one change if their coverage isn't fitting the way they hoped. It's called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP), and it's separate from the fall Annual Enrollment Period that just wrapped up on December 7.

For Lincoln residents who signed up during the fall and are now looking at a new plan card, a new pharmacy network, or a new drug formulary, this is the built-in do-over — but it comes with clear limits.

Who this window is for

The MA OEP is only for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. If you're on Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) with or without a stand-alone Part D drug plan, this window does not apply to you. You'd have to wait for the next Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Lincoln is in Lancaster County, and plan availability, networks, and drug lists are all set at the county level. If you moved into or out of Lancaster County recently, that move may open a separate Special Enrollment Period on top of MA OEP.

What you can change between January 1 and March 31

During MA OEP, you're allowed to do one of the following:

• Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
• 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 of the month after the plan receives your enrollment request. So a switch made in February typically starts March 1.

What you cannot do in this window

MA OEP is narrower than the fall enrollment period. During January through March, you cannot:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Join a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you're staying on Original Medicare and weren't already enrolled in one (unless you're dropping Medicare Advantage as part of the change).
• Switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another stand-alone Part D plan.

Those moves belong to the fall Annual Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period.

Why some Lincoln residents take a second look in January

New plan year, new rules. Every January, Medicare Advantage plans can change their provider networks, their pharmacy networks, their drug formularies, and their prior-authorization requirements. A plan that worked last year may look different this year — even if the name on the card is the same.

Common reasons people revisit their choice in January or February:

• A regular doctor or specialist is no longer in the plan's network.
• A prescription drug moved to a higher tier, was dropped from the formulary, or now requires prior authorization.
• The plan's rules for referrals or out-of-network care changed.
• The person realized a different plan structure (HMO vs. PPO, for example) fits their care better.

It's also worth knowing about a couple of program-wide numbers that apply no matter which path you take: the Part D annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases. The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.

How to make a change the right way

You don't cancel your old plan yourself. When you enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan (or in a stand-alone Part D plan after leaving Medicare Advantage), the enrollment automatically ends the old one. Trying to disenroll separately can create a coverage gap.

Before you switch, it helps to:

1. List your regular doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies and check whether they're in the new plan. 2. List every prescription, including the dose, and check the new plan's formulary. 3. Note any upcoming procedures or referrals so you understand how the new plan handles them. 4. Confirm the effective date in writing once you enroll.

For personalized help in Lincoln, Nebraska SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free, unbiased counseling. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov.