Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Bellevue's Jan.–March Window

For 2027, Bellevue is looking at 59 Medicare Advantage plans: 18 new, 27 gone since 2026, and 31 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 10 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in King County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — From January 1 through March 31, people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan get a second chance to rethink that choice. It's called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, and for Bellevue residents who left the fall Annual Enrollment Period feeling unsure about their pick, this window offers a real do-over — with some important limits.

Here's what you can actually change during this period, what you can't, and where to get free local help.

What the Open Enrollment Period is (and isn't)

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, or MA-OEP, runs every year from January 1 to March 31. According to CMS, it's designed for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1 and want to make one change.

It's not the same as the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), when anyone with Medicare can shop plans freely. The MA-OEP is narrower — it's a one-time switch, not an open shopping season.

If you're happy with the plan you chose last fall, you don't need to do anything. Your coverage continues.

What you CAN change between January 1 and March 31

If you're currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may:

• Switch to a different 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.

You get one change during this window. Once you make it, the MA-OEP is essentially used up for you until next year.

What you CAN'T do during the MA-OEP

This is where people in Bellevue often get tripped up. During January 1 – March 31, you cannot:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
• Move from one stand-alone Part D drug plan to another if you're on Original Medicare.
• Join a Medicare Advantage plan if you weren't already in one on January 1.

Also worth knowing: signing up for a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy after you leave Medicare Advantage isn't guaranteed outside your initial enrollment window. In Washington state, however, Medigap rules are more consumer-friendly than in most states — a licensed SHIBA counselor can walk you through what applies to your situation.

Why this window matters more in 2027

A few program-level changes make it worth taking a fresh look at your plan for 2027:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: In 2026, your prescription drug costs under Part D are capped at $2,100 for the year. Once you hit that, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible: The maximum allowed deductible is $615 in 2026.
• No more donut hole: The old coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can choose to spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay a surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums. For 2026, the surcharge starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

If your January pharmacy bill or first doctor visit of the year gave you sticker shock, the MA-OEP is your chance to act before March 31.

Bellevue in context: what's available in King County

Bellevue is in King County, where Medicare Advantage availability is set at the county level. That means every Bellevue resident sees the same menu of plans as neighbors in Redmond, Kirkland, and Seattle. Coverage networks, formularies, and extra benefits vary by plan, so the "right" plan is genuinely personal — it depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, and how you use care.

Rather than relying on a mailer or a TV ad, use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to compare plans side-by-side using your own ZIP code, doctors, and drug list.

How to make a change — the practical steps

1. Log in (or create an account) at Medicare.gov. Your current plan, drug list, and pharmacy are already loaded if you've used it before. 2. Compare plans using your actual medications and preferred Bellevue-area providers. Check that your doctor and pharmacy are in-network. 3. Call the plan directly to confirm anything unclear before you enroll. 4. Enroll before March 31. Your new coverage generally starts the first day of the month after you make the change. 5. Keep confirmation numbers and dates in case there's a billing hiccup during the transition.