Medicare Advantage

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

CLOVIS, N.M. — 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 January 1 through March 31 every year, and it gives people already in an Advantage plan a second look before the choice is locked in for the rest of the year.

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Person reviewing paperwork at home in Clovis — illustrating this Medicare guide — Photo: Kelly Sikkema Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

By The Medicare Desk · Medicare Education Desk

Published 2026-09-17·Updated 2026-09-30·9 min read·✓ Reviewed·● Clovis, NM

Key takeaways

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31 and is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
During this window you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare, with the option to add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
You cannot use this period to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you're currently on Original Medicare.
In 2026, Part D out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100, rising to $2,400 in 2027. The Part D deductible cannot exceed $615 in 2026, rising to $700 in 2027.

This window is different from the Annual Enrollment Period that ended December 7. It's narrower in scope, but for Curry County residents who feel stuck with the wrong plan, it can be a real relief valve.

Who this window is for

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA-OEP) is meant for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you're one of them, you get one chance between January 1 and March 31 to change your mind.

If you're on Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and you didn't pick up an Advantage plan during the fall Annual Enrollment Period, this window isn't for you. You'd generally have to wait for the next Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, unless a Special Enrollment Period applies.

What you can actually change

The MA-OEP is more limited than the fall enrollment window. During January 1 – March 31, 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 go back to Original Medicare, add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

What you cannot do during this window:

Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
Join or switch a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying on Medicare Advantage.
Make more than one change — you get one switch, and it takes effect the first of the following month.

Why a Clovis resident might use it

People use this second look for very human reasons. Maybe a doctor at Plains Regional Medical Center or a specialist you drive to in Lubbock or Albuquerque isn't in your new plan's network. Maybe a prescription you take year-round isn't covered the way you expected. Maybe the plan's referral rules or prior authorization steps feel harder to navigate than the brochure suggested.

Clovis is in Curry County, where a range of Medicare Advantage plans are offered by multiple carriers. County-level availability is set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), not by ZIP code, so anyone with a Clovis address generally sees the same menu of options. You can compare what's available on Medicare's Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare.

A few numbers worth knowing

Even if you don't change plans, it's worth understanding the rules that apply this year and next:

Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending reaches that amount, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
Part D deductible ceiling: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. No Part D plan can charge a deductible above this.
No more donut hole: As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: An optional program that spreads your drug costs across the year in monthly bills instead of hitting you at the pharmacy counter.
IRMAA: Higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

How to think it through

Before you switch, pull out the paperwork your current plan sent for 2026 — the Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage. Check three things: your doctors, your drugs, and your regular pharmacy. Then compare that against any plan you're considering.

If it feels like a lot, you don't have to do it alone. New Mexico's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), called the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department's Benefits Counseling program, offers free, unbiased help. They don't sell plans and they don't work on commission.

Where to get help

Medicare: medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.
New Mexico SHIP / Benefits Counseling: 1-800-432-2080. Free one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers.
Social Security (for Part A and Part B questions and IRMAA appeals): 1-800-772-1213.

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 Curry County

36% are on Medicare Advantage
(MA penetration in Curry County)

36%

64%

Medicare Advantage Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Original Medicare only

U.S. average

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.

Compare with a licensed agent

See Medicare options serving Clovis & speak with a licensed agent

Medicare Advantage companies in Curry County

By local enrollment size · informational, not a ranking

Company	Local enrollment	Plans offered	Local agents
HumanaNational	43%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
UnitedHealthcareNational	34%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)Regional	18%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Presbyterian Healthcare ServicesRegional	2%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Molina Healthcare IncRegional	1%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Aetna (CVS Health)National	1%of MA enrollment	—	Yes

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Enrollment data: CMS Medicare Advantage enrollment by company (county level). Figures shown are illustrative sample data pending the current CMS file. Listed by enrollment size, largest first — this is not a ranking, recommendation, or endorsement of any company or plan.

Provided by licensed insurance partners; MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated. Not a ranking or endorsement of any plan.

Explore

When can you enroll? An interactive year

JFMAMJJASOND

October 15 – December 7 — anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.

Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.

Explore

The parts of Medicare

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

When does the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period end?

It ends March 31. Any change you make during this window takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your request, so making a decision earlier in the window means your new coverage starts sooner.

Can I join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time between January and March?

No. This window is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you're on Original Medicare and want to join an Advantage plan, you generally need to wait for the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

If I go back to Original Medicare, can I add a Part D drug plan?

Yes. Dropping your Medicare Advantage plan during the MA-OEP triggers the ability to enroll in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan so you don't go without drug coverage.

Does changing plans affect my Medigap options?

It can. Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policies have their own enrollment rules, and outside of your initial Medigap open enrollment, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting. Before dropping an Advantage plan to return to Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, call your SHIP counselor to understand what you'd qualify for in New Mexico.

Sources & further reading

CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)

For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.

Also for Clovis

Medicare Supplement in Clovis Medicare Part D in New Mexico

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This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.