Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Fall Enrollment: What Parma Can Change by December 7

People in Parma can choose from 99 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 112 this year. 31 of this year’s plans are gone, 18 are new to Cuyahoga County, and 37 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 6 of them under a new name.

In Parma, retirees on Medicare are looking ahead to 2027 coverage — the pharmacy trips, the referrals, the provider network. If something isn't fitting, or if your plan's Annual Notice of Change flagged something new, the fall is the time to act. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and choices made in that window take effect January 1, 2027.

This period is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and the rules about what you can and can't do trip up a lot of people. Here's what Parma residents should know before the March 31 deadline.

Who can use this enrollment period

The Medicare Advantage Annual Enrollment in Parma Period is only for people who were already in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. If you're on Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) without an Advantage plan, this window is not for you — you'd generally need to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

So if you enrolled in an Advantage plan during the fall and coverage started January 1, you're eligible to make one change between now and March 31.

What you can change

During the Medicare Advantage Annual Enrollment in Parma 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 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

That's it. The change takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

What you cannot do in this window

This is where mistakes happen. During the January–March window, you cannot:

• Join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you're currently on Original Medicare.
• Switch from one stand-alone Part D drug plan to another if you're staying on Original Medicare.
• Make more than one change. Once you switch, that's your move for the period.

Also worth knowing: dropping an Advantage plan to return to Original Medicare doesn't automatically get you a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. In Ohio, outside of your initial guaranteed-issue window, insurers can use medical underwriting to decide whether to sell you a supplement — so ask questions before you make the leap.

Why someone in Parma might use this window

Parma is in Cuyahoga County, where residents have a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans and carriers to choose from. A plan that looked right on paper in October can feel different once you use it. Common reasons people reconsider:

• A preferred doctor or hospital system isn't in the network.
• A prescription isn't covered the way you expected, or the pharmacy tier changed.
• You need care — like a specialist or physical therapy — and the referral rules feel restrictive.
• Your travel or living situation changed.

Before switching, log in to Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, enter your prescriptions and preferred pharmacies, and compare plans side by side. The tool shows network status, drug coverage, and total estimated yearly costs.

A few 2027 facts worth keeping in mind

Whatever you decide, some program-wide numbers apply in 2027:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your drug spending hits that, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no more than $615 in 2026 and no more than $700 in 2027 (plans can set it lower).
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases, not four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs into monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Where to get unbiased help

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you shouldn't rely on a TV ad. Free, one-on-one help is available:

• Medicare.gov — compare plans and check coverage.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7 help from Medicare directly.
• Ohio SHIP (OSHIIP) — the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Reach them at 1-800-686-1578.