Medicare Advantage
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: What You Can Change by December 7
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — From October 15 through December 7, 2026, anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027 coverage. This stretch is called the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP, and any choice you make takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, you keep your current plan (if it's offered next year) with the changes described in its Annual Notice of Change.
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Key takeaways
- During the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, 2026, anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027. Doing nothing means keeping your current plan, if it's offered next year, with the changes in its ANOC.
- This window, called the MA-OEP, is only open to people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, not those on Original Medicare, who must wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15–Dec. 7) unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- Anyone who drops Medicare Advantage and goes back to Original Medicare during this period generally needs to also pick up a stand-alone Part D plan right away or risk a late enrollment penalty later.
- Any change made during this window takes effect on the first day of the next month, so waiting until late March leaves little time to fix a mistake.
A one-time window, and it's open now
If you looked at your plan's 2026 notice over the holidays and something feels off — a doctor left the network, a prescription is no longer covered, or costs shifted — this is your window to act. But the rules about what you can change are narrower than most people realize.
What you can (and can't) do between Jan. 1 and March 31
The MA-OEP is only for people currently in a Medicare Advantage plan. Here's what's allowed:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
- Add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan if you're going back to Original Medicare.
What you cannot do during this window:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Join or switch a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying on Original Medicare.
- Make more than one change (you get one MA-OEP change per year).
If you're on Original Medicare right now, your next general opportunity to make a change is the fall Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Why 2027 is worth a closer look
A few program-wide updates make this fall's review more meaningful than usual:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending reaches that amount in the year, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs the rest of that year.
- Part D deductible cannot exceed $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four, which changes how costs stack up through the year.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This is a free option to spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy counter. You can opt in through your drug plan.
- IRMAA surcharges for higher-income beneficiaries kick in above $109,000 (single filer) in 2026.
None of that tells you which plan fits — but it does mean the math inside your plan may look different than it did last year.
Mount Pleasant is in Charleston County
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level, not the ZIP code or city. Mount Pleasant is in Charleston County, where a range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are offered by multiple carriers. The exact list — and each plan's network, formulary, and costs — changes every year.
The most reliable way to see what's available at your address is the Plan Finder at medicare.gov, which lets you enter your ZIP code and your prescriptions to compare options for your situation.
Common mistakes to avoid this window
1. Assuming your doctors are still in network. Networks can change January 1. Call the provider's billing office and confirm they take your specific plan for 2027, not just "Medicare."
2. Forgetting the pharmacy piece. A Medicare Advantage plan with prescription coverage handles both. If you drop MA and return to Original Medicare, you generally need to pick up a stand-alone Part D plan during this same window — or you could face a late enrollment penalty later.
3. Making a change based on a mailer or TV ad. Marketing pieces don't show your drugs, your doctors, or your total picture. Use Plan Finder or talk to a neutral counselor before switching.
4. Waiting until late March. Effective dates are the first of the month after your change. A March 30 switch means April 1 coverage — leaving little room to fix a mistake.
Where to get unbiased help
- medicare.gov — official Plan Finder and coverage rules.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, free.
- South Carolina SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — free, one-on-one Medicare counseling from trained volunteers, not tied to any insurance company. Call 1-800-868-9095 to find a counselor near Mount Pleasant.
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 Charleston County
(MA penetration in Charleston 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.
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.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: I'm happy with my Medicare Advantage plan. Do I need to do anything during MA-OEP?
Q: Can I use MA-OEP to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time?
Q: If I switch plans in February, when does the new plan start?
- CMS — MA/Part D Landscape & Plan Finder data
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.