Medicare Advantage

One Switch, One Window: Springfield's Jan.–March MA Rules

For 2027, Springfield is looking at 36 Medicare Advantage plans: 7 new, 15 gone since 2026, and 21 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 5 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Lane County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — If the Medicare Advantage plan you're starting the year with isn't feeling like the right fit, you have a second chance to fix it. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, and it's built for exactly this moment — the weeks after your new coverage kicks in, when you actually see how it works at the pharmacy counter or the doctor's office.

But this window has rules that trip people up every year. It's not a do-over of the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and not everyone qualifies to use it. Here's what Springfield residents need to know before making a move.

Who this window is actually for

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA OEP) is designed for people who already have a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. If that's you, and your new plan isn't working the way you expected, you have until March 31 to make a change.

If you're still on Original Medicare and hoping to jump into a Medicare Advantage plan now, this window doesn't apply to you. Your chance to make that move was the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7. You'd generally need to wait for the next AEP or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

What you can change — and what you can't

During January 1–March 31, you may:

• 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).
• Add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan if you return to Original Medicare.

What you cannot do in this window:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Join or switch a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying in Original Medicare.
• Make more than one change. This period allows one switch — pick carefully.

Common mistakes to avoid

Forgetting about Medigap medical underwriting. If you drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare, you may want a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy to help with out-of-pocket costs. Outside of your initial Medigap open enrollment or a guaranteed-issue situation, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting — meaning your health history can affect whether you're accepted or what you pay. Check the rules before you drop your Advantage plan.

Assuming your doctors are still in network. Networks and formularies can change year to year. Before switching plans, confirm your providers, pharmacies, and prescriptions are covered under the new plan.

Waiting until the last week of March. Coverage changes have a start date — usually the first of the month after your request is processed. If you move on March 30, you're paying and using the old plan for most of the quarter.

How the 2027 drug cost rules fit in

Even if you keep the same type of coverage, some Part D rules are shifting for 2027. The annual out-of-pocket cap on covered prescription drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025, leaving three coverage phases instead of four.

There's also the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, an optional program that lets you spread your annual drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying a large amount at the pharmacy at once. It doesn't lower what you owe, but it can make the timing easier to manage. You can opt in through your drug plan.

Higher-income enrollees should also know IRMAA surcharges — extra amounts added to Part B and Part D premiums — begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Local context for Springfield

Springfield is in Lane County, where Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That means the menu of plans available to a Springfield resident is the same menu available to neighbors elsewhere in Lane County. When you're comparing options on Medicare.gov, enter your ZIP code to see the full county-level list.

Where to get unbiased help

Before you make a change, get a second set of eyes on the decision. Free, unbiased help is available from:

• Medicare.gov — the official plan finder and rulebook.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
• Oregon SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance), the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Oregon. Counselors are trained to explain your options without selling you anything.