Medicare Advantage
How Galveston Medicare Advantage Members Can Switch by March 31
GALVESTON, Texas — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and it isn't fitting the way you hoped, you get a second look. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives current Advantage members one chance to change course before the year settles in.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31 and is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1.
- You can make one change during this window: switch to a different Advantage plan, or drop Advantage and return to Original Medicare (with the option to add a Part D drug plan).
- You cannot use this period to move from Original Medicare into an Advantage plan for the first time, or to join a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying on Original Medicare.
- In 2026, Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap and a maximum deductible of $615; in 2027, the cap is $2,400 and the maximum deductible is $700 — figures worth checking against any drug coverage you're comparing.
This window is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and the rules about what you can and can't do are specific. Here's a plain-English walkthrough so you can decide whether to act — and when.
Who can use this window
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA-OEP) is for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. If you're in Original Medicare on that date, this window isn't for you — you'd need to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Newly eligible for Medicare and enrolled in an Advantage plan during your Initial Enrollment Period? You also get access to this window.
What you can change
During January 1 – March 31, you can do one of the following, one time:
- Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you take this route, you can also join a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
The change takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your enrollment request.
What you can't change
This is where a lot of readers get tripped up. During the MA-OEP, you cannot:
- Move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you're staying on Original Medicare without making a switch out of Advantage.
- Make more than one change. If you switch plans in January and don't like the new one in March, you'll typically have to wait until the fall.
How to think through the decision
Galveston is in Galveston County, where Medicare beneficiaries have a range of Advantage plans available to choose from — the exact count is set at the county level and can be looked up on the Plan Finder at medicare.gov.
If you're weighing a change, a few honest questions help:
- Are your doctors and hospitals still in the plan's network? Networks can shift year to year, and the plan you had in December may look different now.
- Are your prescriptions on the plan's drug list? The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and it applies across Medicare drug coverage — but the drugs each plan covers, and at what tier, still vary.
- Do you use extra benefits enough to matter? Dental, vision, hearing, and fitness benefits are common in Advantage plans, but only useful if you actually use them.
- How do costs land for the way you use care? Premiums are only part of the picture; copays, coinsurance, and the plan's maximum out-of-pocket also shape what you'll actually pay.
If your income is above $109,000 as a single filer in 2026, keep in mind that Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) can add surcharges to Part B and Part D premiums regardless of which plan you choose.
Where to get unbiased help
You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to lean on a sales call to get answers.
- medicare.gov has the official Plan Finder, where you can enter your ZIP code and prescriptions to compare Advantage and Part D plans side by side.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is staffed 24/7.
- Your local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free, one-on-one counseling. In Texas, that's the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), reachable through the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.
If prescription costs are the pinch point, ask about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, a free option that spreads your out-of-pocket drug costs into monthly installments across the year instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
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 Galveston County
(MA penetration in Galveston 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.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan during January to March?
If I drop my Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare, can I still get drug coverage?
How many changes can I make between January 1 and March 31?
When does my new coverage start?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Galveston
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This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.