Medicare Advantage

One Do-Over: Kennewick's Jan. 1–March 31 MA Reset

Kennewick, Wash. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during fall enrollment and now wonder if you picked the right one, 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 plan year locks in.

See Medicare Advantage options in your area

Compare Medicare Advantage options near you

Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Advantage listings from licensed insurance partners.

✓ Free · ✓ Takes 20 seconds · ✓ No name, phone, or email needed

What’s your ZIP code?

Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.

How old are you?

This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.

Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?

This affects which Medicare Advantage options you can choose.

Medicare Advantage options in your area

These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.

2027 PLAN ALERT

Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.

One call tells you whether your plan is on the list — before enrollment opens.

Available now — current wait: 0 min

A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.

Call 855-729-3240

Annual Enrollment: Oct 15 – Dec 7

Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.

Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent

Click to call 855-729-3240

TTY: 711
Monday - Friday 7am - 9pm CST

BEFORE YOU ENROLL

Found a plan you like online?

One free call confirms it's actually right for you — online directories are wrong more often than you'd think.

Your doctors — confirmed in-network for 2027
Your prescriptions — checked against the plan's 2027 drug tiers

Verify it in one call

855-729-3240 · free · about 5 minutes

Thoughtful older woman at window in Kennewick — illustrating this Medicare guide — Photo: Naitian（Tony） Wang Photo by Naitian（Tony） Wang on Unsplash

By The Medicare Desk · Medicare Education Desk

Published 2026-09-22·Updated 2026-09-30·9 min read·✓ Reviewed·● Kennewick, WA

Key takeaways

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through 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 your plan and return to Original Medicare.
If you go back to Original Medicare, you can also join a stand-alone Part D drug plan during the same window.
This period is not a second chance to shop for the first time — people still in Original Medicare cannot use it to jump into an Advantage plan.

This window is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and it comes with its own rules. Here is what Kennewick residents can — and cannot — do between January and March.

Who this window is for

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, sometimes called MA OEP, is only for people who already have a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. If you enrolled during the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), your new plan starts January 1 — and if it does not feel like the right fit once you start using it, you have until March 31 to make one change.

If you are still in Original Medicare on January 1, this window does not apply to you. You would generally need to wait for the next fall Annual Enrollment Period, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

What you can change between Jan. 1 and March 31

During the MA Open Enrollment Period, you can:

Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
If you return to Original Medicare, join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

You only get to make one change during this window. Once you use it, the change sticks until the next enrollment opportunity.

What you cannot do

This window is more limited than fall enrollment. During MA OEP, you cannot:

Switch from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
Join or switch a stand-alone Part D plan if you are staying in Original Medicare and were already in it on January 1.
Sign up for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy with guaranteed acceptance in most cases — medical underwriting may apply, depending on your situation and Washington state rules.

If you are unsure whether a Medigap policy would be available to you, the Washington State SHIBA program (the state's SHIP) can walk through your options at no cost.

Plan availability in the Kennewick area

Kennewick is in Benton County, where Medicare beneficiaries typically have a range of Medicare Advantage and Part D options offered by multiple carriers. Because plan lineups, provider networks, and drug formularies can shift from year to year, it is worth comparing your current plan's details — not just the plan name — against the 2027 Annual Notice of Change before deciding whether to switch.

The official Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code and your prescriptions to see what is offered in Benton County for 2027.

2027 rules worth knowing before you switch

A few program-level changes may factor into your decision:

The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
The Part D deductible cannot be more than $615 in 2026, and cannot be more than $700 in 2027.
The old coverage gap (“donut hole”) was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It is optional and free to join.
Higher-income beneficiaries may pay an IRMAA surcharge on Part B and Part D. For 2026, IRMAA begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

How to make a change

If you decide to switch, you can:

Compare and enroll online at medicare.gov.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call Washington's SHIBA program for free, unbiased counseling from trained volunteers.

Have your red, white, and blue Medicare card and a current list of your prescriptions handy before you call or log in.

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 Benton County

33% are on Medicare Advantage
(MA penetration in Benton County)

33%

67%

Medicare Advantage Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Original Medicare only

U.S. average

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.

Compare with a licensed agent

See Medicare options serving Kennewick & speak with a licensed agent

Medicare Advantage companies in Benton County

By local enrollment size · informational, not a ranking

Company	Local enrollment	Plans offered	Local agents
UnitedHealthcareNational	52%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
HumanaNational	35%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Providence St Joseph HealthRegional	4%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Community Health Plan of WashingtonRegional	3%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Aetna (CVS Health)National	2%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Molina Healthcare IncRegional	1%of MA enrollment	—	Yes

Prefer to talk? Speak with a licensed agent

Enrollment data: CMS Medicare Advantage enrollment by company (county level). Figures shown are illustrative sample data pending the current CMS file. Listed by enrollment size, largest first — this is not a ranking, recommendation, or endorsement of any company or plan.

Provided by licensed insurance partners; MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated. Not a ranking or endorsement of any plan.

Explore

When can you enroll? An interactive year

JFMAMJJASOND

October 15 – December 7 — anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.

Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.

Explore

The parts of Medicare

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

When does the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period start and end?

It runs every year from January 1 through March 31. Any change you make takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your request.

I have Original Medicare. Can I use this window to join a Medicare Advantage plan?

No. The MA Open Enrollment Period is only for people who already have a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you are in Original Medicare, you generally have to wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

How many changes can I make during this window?

Just one. You can switch Medicare Advantage plans once, or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan) once. After that, the choice stands until the next enrollment opportunity.

Where can Kennewick residents get free, one-on-one help?

Washington's SHIP is called SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors). It offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling by phone and, in many areas, in person. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit medicare.gov for official information.

Sources & further reading

CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)

For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.

Also for Kennewick

Medicare Supplement in Kennewick Medicare Part D in Kennewick Medicare 2026 in Kennewick

Content Integrity Standards

No invented figures. Program-level numbers come from CMS / Medicare.gov; we never use placeholder data.
No plan rankings or recommendations. This is educational content. We don't rank, score, or recommend specific plans.
AI-assisted, human-reviewed. Articles are produced with AI-assisted tools and reviewed by the responsible desk before publishing.
Inline sourcing. Facts and figures are cited to primary sources — CMS, SSA, and Medicare.gov.
Correction transparency. We fix errors openly and note when a page was last updated.
Not a government site. MyMedicarePlans.org is privately owned and not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.