Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: What Bremerton Can Change by March 31
BREMERTON, Wash. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during fall enrollment and are already second-guessing that choice, you still have time to fix it. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, and it gives people already enrolled in an Advantage plan one clean chance to change course before the year locks in.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 and lets people already in an Advantage plan make one change before the year locks in.
- If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, this window lets you make one switch, and it takes effect the first day of the month after your request is received.
- This period is not for people on Original Medicare, so it can't be used to join an Advantage plan for the first time, pick up a stand-alone Part D plan, or switch between stand-alone Part D plans.
- Kitsap County residents had multiple Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans from several carriers for 2026; the 2027 lineup is in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Checking your own drug list, pharmacy network, and provider network against a new plan is worth doing during this window.
Bremerton retirees get a second window — but it works differently
This window isn't as wide-open as the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and that trips people up every year. Here's what it actually lets you do, and what it doesn't.
What you can change between January 1 and March 31
According to CMS, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you may:
- 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).
- Add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan if you go back to Original Medicare.
You get one change during this period. Whatever you pick takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your request.
What you cannot do in this window
This is where mistakes happen. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is not for people who currently have Original Medicare. If you're on Original Medicare on January 1, you can't use this window to jump into an Advantage plan or to pick up a stand-alone Part D plan for the first time.
You also can't use it to switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another if you're staying on Original Medicare. Those changes had to happen during the October 15–December 7 Annual Enrollment Period, or they'll have to wait until next fall unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, if you move or lose other coverage).
Why this matters more in 2027
A few program-level changes make this year's check-in worth taking seriously:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that number, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible capped at $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. 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 installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional, and you can opt in any time.
- IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
If your new plan's drug list, pharmacy network, or provider network doesn't line up with what you actually use, this is your window to correct it.
What's available around Bremerton
Bremerton sits in Kitsap County, which is the level at which Medicare plan availability is set. Kitsap residents had multiple Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone Part D plans offered by several carriers for 2026; the 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Plan details — including which doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are in-network — vary plan by plan, so the useful comparison is always the one you run against your own prescriptions and providers.
You can see the current list, side by side, using the Plan Finder at medicare.gov.
Common mistakes to sidestep
- Assuming a "small tweak" is free. Any change you make here replaces your current Advantage plan entirely. Confirm your doctors and drugs are covered before you switch.
- Losing drug coverage by accident. If you drop an Advantage plan that included drug coverage and go back to Original Medicare, add a stand-alone Part D plan in the same move — otherwise you could face a late-enrollment penalty later.
- Waiting until March 31. Requests take effect the month after the plan gets them. If you wait until the last week, your new coverage won't start until May 1.
- Trusting a mailer over the official tool. Marketing pieces aren't the full picture. Use medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
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 Kitsap County
(MA penetration in Kitsap 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
I'm on Original Medicare. Can I use this window to join a Medicare Advantage plan?
Can I switch stand-alone Part D plans between January 1 and March 31?
How many times can I change plans during this window?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.