Medicare Advantage
Sheridan Medicare Advantage Coverage Changes Allowed Jan–March
SHERIDAN, Wyo. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during last fall's Annual Enrollment Period and are now having second thoughts, you still have time to make a change. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, and it gives people already enrolled in an Advantage plan one more chance to adjust their coverage for the year.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 and lets people already enrolled in an Advantage plan make one change for the year.
- This window is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, so those with Original Medicare only need to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or a Special Enrollment Period.
- A change made during this period takes effect the first day of the next month, so a January switch starts February 1 and a February switch starts March 1.
- You can use this period to fix issues like a doctor or pharmacy no longer being in network, but you cannot use it the same way Original Medicare enrollees use the fall period to shop for drug plans.
Here's what Sheridan residents can — and can't — do during this window.
What the Open Enrollment Period is (and who it's for)
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, sometimes called the MA OEP, is different from the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7). It's a narrower window built specifically for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1.
If you're currently in Original Medicare only, this period doesn't apply to you. You'd need to wait for the next fall Annual Enrollment Period or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
According to CMS, you can only use this window one time between January 1 and March 31. Once you make a change, that's your move for the season.
What you can change
During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, you're allowed to:
- 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.
A new coverage choice made in January takes effect February 1. A change made in February starts March 1, and so on.
What you cannot do in this window
This is where people get tripped up. During the MA OEP, you cannot:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you're already in Original Medicare (without also being in an Advantage plan you're leaving).
- Make more than one change during the window.
If you're in Original Medicare and want to shop drug plans, your main opportunity is the fall Annual Enrollment Period.
Why some people use this window
There are practical reasons people revisit their choice in the first quarter. A new plan may not include the same doctors or clinics in Sheridan County that a member expected. A specialist referral process may feel more restrictive than anticipated. A prescription may fall on a different tier than last year, or a needed pharmacy may no longer be in network.
The MA OEP gives you a chance to correct a mismatch without waiting the full year.
What's new in 2027 to keep in mind
Even if you don't change plans, a few program-level updates are worth knowing before you decide:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you reach that amount, you pay nothing for covered Part D drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible: The maximum allowed Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- No more donut hole: The old coverage gap phase was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: This optional program lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D. For 2026, IRMAA begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer.
These rules apply nationwide, including here in Sheridan County.
Local context for Sheridan County
Sheridan is in Sheridan County, and Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level. If you're weighing a switch, you can see the full list of plans available where you live — along with each plan's networks, drug formularies, and costs — by using the Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov. That's the official source, and it's updated for the 2027 plan year. Your current plan's Annual Notice of Change also spells out what's different next year.
You can also call a local, unbiased counselor through Wyoming's State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), which offers one-on-one help at no cost.
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 Sheridan County
(MA penetration in Sheridan 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 back to Original Medicare and pick up a Medigap policy in March?
If I switch Advantage plans in February, when does the new plan start?
I'm turning 65 in Sheridan in February. Does this window apply to me?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.