Medicare Advantage
West Orange's second-chance window: what you can change between Jan. 1 and March 31
People in West Orange can choose from 48 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 48 this year. Ten of this year’s plans are gone, 10 are new to Essex County, and 12 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 2 of them under a new name.
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WEST ORANGE, N.J. — If the Medicare Advantage plan you signed up for during fall enrollment isn't feeling like the right fit, you get one more shot to fix it. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives people already in an Advantage plan a chance to make one change — no penalty, no special reason required.
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, and is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 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 Part D drug plan).
- You cannot use this period to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time from Original Medicare, and you cannot switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another.
- West Orange is in Essex County, where a wide range of Advantage plans are offered — so if your current plan isn't a fit, there are other options to compare on Medicare.gov.
This window is different from the Annual Enrollment Period that just ended December 7. It's smaller in scope, but for West Orange residents who feel stuck with a plan that isn't working, it can be a real relief.
Who can use this window
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA-OEP) is designed for one group: people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. If that's you, the door is open until March 31.
If you're on Original Medicare on January 1 — even if you were thinking about jumping into an Advantage plan — this isn't your window. You'd generally need to wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period in the fall, or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
What you can actually change
During January 1 to March 31, 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 (Parts A and B).
- If you return to Original Medicare, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
You get one change during this period. Once you make it, the window closes for you until next year. The change takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.
What you can't do here
It's just as important to know what's off the table:
- You can't switch from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- You can't move from one stand-alone Part D drug plan to another if you're staying on Original Medicare.
- You can't use this window to buy or switch a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy under guaranteed-issue rules in most cases — Medigap has its own separate rules, and in New Jersey, medical underwriting can apply outside your initial enrollment window.
If Medigap is on your mind, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) before you drop an Advantage plan. Returning to Original Medicare without a supplement can leave you exposed to unlimited out-of-pocket costs on the Part A and B side.
Why someone in West Orange might use it
West Orange residents are in Essex County, where Medicare beneficiaries generally have many Advantage plans to choose from. Reasons people revisit their choice in the first quarter include:
- A preferred doctor or hospital turned out not to be in the plan's network.
- A prescription isn't covered the way they expected, or costs more than they thought.
- Referral or prior authorization rules feel more restrictive than anticipated.
- A change in health has made the plan's benefits or provider access feel wrong.
Before switching, check the new plan's provider directory and drug formulary for 2027, and confirm any specialists you see are in-network.
2027 facts worth knowing while you compare
A few program-level numbers that apply no matter which plan you're comparing:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- The old coverage gap (the "donut hole") was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to join.
- IRMAA surcharges — higher premiums for higher earners — start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
How to make a change
You have a few ways to switch or drop coverage:
- Compare plans and enroll at Medicare.gov using the Plan Finder tool.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
- Contact New Jersey's SHIP — the State Health Insurance Assistance Program — for free, unbiased local counseling.
Keep any confirmation numbers or letters you receive. Your new coverage starts the first of the month after your enrollment is processed.
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 Essex County
(MA penetration in Essex 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 switch Medicare Advantage plans more than once between January and March?
If I drop my Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare, will I automatically have drug coverage?
Does the January–March window let me buy a Medigap policy?
What if I miss the March 31 deadline?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for West Orange
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This page was last updated: October 1, 2026.