Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Hillsboro: Oct. 15–Dec. 7 for 2027

Hillsboro, Ore. — If you're on Medicare in Washington County, the calendar matters as much as the plan choices. Hillsboro sits in a county where 59 Medicare Advantage plans were available for 2026, offered by 13 carriers — the 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Miss the December 7 date, and your options for the year get much narrower.

This piece is about the timing: which windows apply to you, what happens if you let one pass, and how they overlap.

The one date almost everyone should circle: December 7

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is October 15 through December 7 every year. During this window, anyone with Medicare can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop, or change a Part D prescription drug plan.

Whatever you pick during AEP starts January 1, 2027. If December 7 passes and you did nothing, your current coverage generally rolls into next year — sometimes with different costs or a different drug list than you had this year. That's why even people who plan to stay put should read the Annual Notice of Change their plan mails in September.

Worth noting for Hillsboro-area readers: Oregon has 10 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide; the 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. If drug coverage matters to you, that shapes how you use AEP — you can pair Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or look at Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage (MA-PD).

The second chance window: January 1 – March 31

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. It's narrower than AEP and only helps you if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. During MA-OEP you can:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage), or
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare, then add a stand-alone Part D plan.

You can only use this window once, and it does not let people on Original Medicare jump into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time. Think of it as a course-correction, not a do-over.

Turning 65 or just signing up? Your window is different

If you're new to Medicare, your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven-month window: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after. Signing up during the three months before your birthday helps coverage start the month you turn 65.

Missing your IEP can mean lifetime late-enrollment penalties for Part B and Part D — penalties that stick with you as long as you have Medicare. If you kept employer coverage past 65, a Special Enrollment Period usually protects you, but the clock starts when that job-based coverage ends. Don't guess on this one; call SHIBA or 1-800-MEDICARE.

How the dates interact — a quick walk-through

• You're happy with your current plan: Read the Annual Notice of Change in September. Do nothing if it still fits. Coverage renews January 1.
• You want a different plan for 2027: Choose between October 15 and December 7, 2026. New plan starts January 1, 2027.
• January comes, and the new plan isn't what you thought: If it's a Medicare Advantage plan, you have until March 31 to switch once or return to Original Medicare.
• You forgot to enroll at 65: You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, or you may have to wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), with coverage starting the month after you sign up. Penalties may apply.

A few program numbers to keep in mind for 2027

These are program-wide, set by CMS, and worth knowing before you compare plans:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly bills.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for single filers in 2026.

Where to get straight answers

With 59 Medicare Advantage plans from 13 carriers in Washington County, comparing on your own can feel like a lot. Use official, unbiased sources:

• medicare.gov/plan-compare — enter your ZIP code and drug list to see what's available.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, free.
• Oregon SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance), the state's SHIP program — free one-on-one counseling with trained volunteers who don't sell insurance.