Medicare Advantage
Drexel Hill Medicare Advantage Changes Allowed Jan–March
DREXEL HILL, Pa. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan in the fall and are already second-guessing your choice, you get a do-over. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives current Advantage members one chance to change course before the coverage year settles in.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, and any change you make takes effect the first of the following month.
- You can make only one change during this window, so use it after you have compared your options carefully.
- This period is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1; it is not a second chance to join Advantage from Original Medicare.
- Part D has a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap and a $615 maximum deductible for 2026, rising to a $2,400 cap and a $700 maximum deductible in 2027, which may affect how your drug coverage feels.
This window is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and it comes with different rules. Knowing what you can — and cannot — do during these three months is the difference between fixing a coverage problem and getting stuck with it until the next plan year.
What you can change between January 1 and March 31
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you have three options during this window:
- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
- If you return to Original Medicare, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
You get one change during this period. Once you make it, that is your choice for the rest of the plan year — unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period because of a life event like moving or losing other coverage.
What you cannot do in this window
This is where a lot of Drexel Hill readers get tripped up. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is not the same as the fall Annual Enrollment Period. During January through March, you cannot:
- Switch from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan (unless you have a separate right to do so).
- Join a Part D plan if you are staying on Original Medicare without a qualifying event.
- Change stand-alone Part D plans if you are already on Original Medicare with drug coverage.
If you did not have Medicare Advantage on January 1, this period does not apply to you.
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 Delaware County
(MA penetration in Delaware 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.
Why 2027 might change how your plan feels
Even if your card and premium look the same, the underlying Part D rules are shifting again for 2027. The out-of-pocket cap on covered prescription drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone as of 2025, replaced by a simpler three-phase structure.
If prescription costs are a big part of your budget, ask about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. It lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It does not lower what you owe — it just smooths out the timing.
Higher-income enrollees should also remember that IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for single filers in 2026.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting too long. Changes take effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request. If you switch on March 30, your new coverage does not start until April 1 — and you have used your one change.
Assuming your doctors are still in network. Provider networks can change each January. Before switching, check that your Drexel Hill-area doctors, specialists, and preferred hospitals accept the plan you are considering.
Forgetting about drug coverage. If you drop Medicare Advantage and go back to Original Medicare without joining a Part D plan, you could face a late-enrollment penalty later.
Comparing based on premium alone. Look at the full picture — the formulary (drug list), network, prior authorization rules, and any extra benefits — not just the monthly cost.
How to compare plans in Delaware County
Drexel Hill is in Delaware County, where multiple Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered. Plan availability is set at the county level, not by ZIP code alone, so what a neighbor a few miles away can pick may differ from what you see.
The Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code, your prescriptions, and your preferred pharmacies to see how plans compare on your actual medications. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For unbiased, one-on-one help, Pennsylvania's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is called APPRISE. Counselors do not sell plans and do not earn commissions — they walk you through your options for free.
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?
Where can I get free help sorting this out in Drexel Hill?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Drexel Hill
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This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.