Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment in Essex Junction, VT
Essex Junction, Vt. — 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 you a chance to change course — once — without waiting until next fall.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 and lets people already in a Medicare Advantage plan make one change, effective the first of the following month.
- This window only applies if you were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1; if you had Original Medicare instead, you'll need to wait for the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- Medicare Advantage plan choices are set by county, so what's available in Chittenden County may differ from other states, and you can check actual 2027 options through the Plan Finder at medicare.gov.
- A licensed insurance agent can help answer Medicare questions at no cost, or you can reach Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP for personalized guidance.
This window is often confused with the bigger Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). It's narrower, quieter, and easy to misuse. Here's what Essex Junction residents can actually do with it, and the mistakes worth avoiding.
What this enrollment window is — and isn't
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA-OEP) runs January 1 to March 31 each year. It exists so people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can correct their choice after the new plan year begins.
You are only eligible to use it if, on January 1, you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. If you're in Original Medicare on January 1, this window is not for you.
You can make one change during this period, and it takes effect the first of the following month.
What you can change
During MA-OEP, you can:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
- Add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan if you go back to Original Medicare.
What you cannot do in this window
This is where people get tripped up. During MA-OEP you cannot:
- Switch from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you're staying in Original Medicare (and weren't just leaving an Advantage plan).
- Make a second change later in the same window. One switch — that's it.
If you missed the Annual Enrollment Period in the fall and you're in Original Medicare, MA-OEP won't rescue that. You'd generally need to wait for the next AEP (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Availability in the Essex Junction area
Essex Junction is in Chittenden County, and Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level, not the town level. Vermont has historically had a smaller Medicare Advantage market than many other states, so the number of plan options here may look different from what a friend in, say, Florida or Arizona describes. That's normal — it's about geography, not about you.
To see the plans actually offered in Chittenden County for 2027, use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov, which pulls directly from CMS data.
2027 rules worth knowing before you switch
A few program-level facts for 2027 that may shape your decision:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that amount, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy. It's optional, and you can opt in through your drug plan.
- IRMAA — the income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D — begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
These figures apply nationwide, including in Vermont.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming your doctors and drugs are covered. Networks and formularies can change year to year. Check both before switching, not after.
- Dropping Advantage without a Medigap plan lined up. If you return to Original Medicare, a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy can help with cost-sharing — but outside your initial eligibility window, medical underwriting rules may apply. Vermont has its own rules on this; the Vermont SHIP can walk you through them.
- Forgetting drug coverage. If you drop Advantage and go back to Original Medicare without a stand-alone Part D plan, you could face a late-enrollment penalty later.
- Using MA-OEP when you're not actually in an Advantage plan. Check your card and your enrollment status first.
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 Chittenden County
(MA penetration in Chittenden 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
Q: I'm happy with my plan. Do I need to do anything during MA-OEP?
Q: Can I use this window to sign up for Medicare for the first time?
Q: If I switch on March 20, when does the new coverage start?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.