Medicare Advantage

Eugene Guide to the Medicare Advantage OEP Jan 1–Mar 31

People in Eugene can choose from 36 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 44 this year. 15 of this year’s plans are gone, 7 are new to Lane County, and 21 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 5 of them under a new name.

Eugene, Ore. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and are second-guessing that pick, you still have time. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you one clean chance to change course for the rest of the year.

This window is separate from the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and it works under different rules. Here is what Eugene-area readers can actually do with it — and what they can’t.

Who this window is for

The January–March window is designed for one group: people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. That includes folks who joined during the fall Annual Enrollment Period and whose new plan took effect at the start of the year.

If you are in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1, this window does not apply to you. You would generally need to wait for the next Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

What you can change between January and March

During this window, you can make one of the following changes:

• Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. If you do that, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

You get one change during this period, and it takes effect the first of the month after the plan receives your request.

What you can’t do in this window

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is narrower than the fall window. During January through March, you cannot:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
• Join a stand-alone Part D plan if you are staying in Original Medicare and were not already in one.
• Switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another if you are in Original Medicare.

Those moves generally have to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7.

Why a second look can be worth it

Plans can change year to year — provider networks, covered drugs, prior authorization rules, and extra benefits are all set annually. If you filled a prescription in January and it wasn’t covered the way you expected, or your doctor is no longer in network, this is the window to act rather than wait until next year.

A few things worth checking against your current plan documents:

• Is every doctor and hospital you use still in the plan’s network?
• Are your regular medications on the plan’s drug list, and in a tier you can afford?
• Do the plan’s rules (referrals, prior authorization, pharmacy choices) match how you actually get care?

A few 2027 numbers worth knowing

Even if you don't change plans, a few program-level Part D figures are useful to have in mind for 2027:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old coverage gap, or “donut hole,” was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly amounts, at no extra cost.
• IRMAA income surcharges for Part B and Part D start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

The local picture in Lane County

Eugene is in Lane County, where Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level, not the city level. That means the menu of plans is the same whether you live near the University of Oregon, in Bethel, or out toward Santa Clara. For 2027, Lane County has 31 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 carriers, down from 44 plans and 9 carriers in 2026; Providence Medicare Advantage Plans is not offering plans in the county next year. If you want to see the full list of what's offered in your ZIP code, the Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the official source and is updated for the current year.

Where to get unbiased help

For one-on-one help sorting through your options, Oregon’s State Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program — known as SHIBA — offers free, unbiased counseling. Trained volunteers can walk through your specific medications, doctors, and budget with you. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.