Medicare Advantage
Minot Medicare Advantage changes allowed January through March
MINOT, N.D. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and it isn't fitting the way you hoped, you have a second chance. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you one shot to change course before the rest of the year locks in.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year, according to CMS.
- You can use it to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, but not to leave Original Medicare for an Advantage plan.
- You get one change during this window — once your new choice takes effect, you're locked in until fall.
- For personalized help in Minot, contact North Dakota's SHIP (called SHIC) or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
This window is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and the rules about what you can and can't do are strict. Here's what Minot-area readers should know before the March 31 deadline.
What this enrollment window is for
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often called MA-OEP) exists so people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can fix a choice that isn't working. Maybe your doctor isn't in the network. Maybe a medication you take isn't covered the way you expected. Maybe the plan simply feels wrong now that you've used it.
Between January 1 and March 31, you're allowed to make one change. The change takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your request.
What you can do — and what you can't
You can:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
- If you go back to Original Medicare, join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
You cannot:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying on Original Medicare and didn't already have drug coverage.
- Make more than one change during the window.
That last point trips people up. If you switch plans in January and then decide in March you'd rather have a third option, you're generally out of luck until the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7).
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming the fall rules still apply. The Annual Enrollment Period ended December 7. The rules now are different and more limited.
Dropping drug coverage by accident. If you leave a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drugs and go back to Original Medicare without signing up for a stand-alone Part D plan, you could face a late enrollment penalty later. Line up your drug coverage before you drop the Advantage plan.
Ignoring the provider network. Before you switch to a different Advantage plan, check that your Minot-area doctors, clinics and preferred hospital are in that plan's network. Networks change every year.
Waiting until March 31. Requests take a few days to process, and the change starts the month after it's accepted. Don't count on a last-minute switch.
What's new for 2027 that might affect your decision
A few program-level changes are worth knowing as you review your coverage:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once your covered drug spending hits that amount, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
- The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to opt into.
- IRMAA surcharges — extra amounts higher earners pay for Part B and Part D — begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
Local context for Minot
Minot is in Ward County, where Medicare Advantage plans are offered by multiple insurance carriers. Plan availability, networks and drug formularies are set at the county level, so a plan available in Ward County may look different from one offered a county over. When you compare options on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, enter your ZIP code to see the plans actually available where you live.
Star Ratings — the 1-to-5 quality scores CMS publishes each year — can be one input when you compare plans, but they measure the plan overall, not how well it will fit your specific doctors and medications.
Where to get unbiased help
You don't have to figure this out alone, and you shouldn't rely on a TV ad to make the call.
- Medicare.gov — the official site, with the Plan Finder tool.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
- North Dakota SHIC (State Health Insurance Counseling) — the state's SHIP program offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling. Counselors don't sell plans and don't earn commissions.
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 Ward County
(MA penetration in Ward 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 from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan between January and March?
How many changes can I make during this window?
When does my new coverage start?
What if I have questions specific to my situation in Minot?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Minot
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This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.