Medicare Part D
Topeka Medicare Advantage OEP: Jan–Mar 2027
TOPEKA, Kan. — Starting January 1, 2027, Medicare Advantage members here have a three-month window to fix a plan choice that isn't working. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, and it's the only broad chance most beneficiaries get to change course after fall's Annual Enrollment Period ends December 7.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, giving current Advantage members one chance to switch if their plan isn't working.
- Members get to make only one change during this window, and once used, it closes until the next year's cycle.
- This period does not help people on Original Medicare who missed the fall enrollment window of October 15 through December 7, though a Special Enrollment Period may apply in some cases.
- Plan details like formularies, pharmacy networks, and provider networks can change on January 1, so it helps to check the Annual Notice of Change and confirm doctors accept a plan before switching.
If you signed up in the fall and now realize your doctor isn't in-network, your prescriptions cost more than you expected, or the plan simply isn't a fit, this is your window. Here's what you can — and can't — do.
What the January–March window is for
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA-OEP) exists so people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can make one change if their coverage isn't working out.
During this window, you may:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B), and then add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
You get one change during this period. Once you make it, the window closes for you until next year's cycle.
What you cannot do in this window
This is where people trip up. The MA-OEP is narrower than the fall enrollment period. 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 staying on Original Medicare and weren't already on one.
- Change from one stand-alone Part D plan to another if you're on Original Medicare.
If you missed the fall window (October 15–December 7) and you're currently on Original Medicare, this January–March window generally doesn't help you. In that case, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to see whether a Special Enrollment Period applies to your situation.
Plan availability in Shawnee County
Topeka is in Shawnee County, where Medicare plan availability — the list of Advantage plans and stand-alone Part D plans offered — is set at the county level by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Two neighbors on the same block see the same menu of choices, but someone across the county line may see a different list. When you compare plans on Medicare.gov, enter your ZIP code so the tool shows the correct county-level options.
The 2027 numbers worth knowing
Whether you're staying put or switching, these program-wide figures shape what you'll pay for prescriptions in 2027:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug costs reach that amount in the calendar year, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs the rest of that year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Plans can charge less, but not more.
- Coverage gap ("donut hole"): Gone. Since 2025, Part D has three phases — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic — with no separate donut hole.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: Optional. It lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It doesn't lower your total — it smooths the timing.
- IRMAA (higher premiums for higher earners): Surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026, based on your 2024 tax return.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming your plan didn't change. Every fall, plans send an Annual Notice of Change. Formularies (the drug lists), pharmacy networks, and provider networks can shift on January 1. If you didn't read that notice, now is the time to check.
Switching before checking your doctor's network. Before you enroll in a new Advantage plan, call your primary care doctor's office and any specialists you see. Ask directly whether they take that specific plan for 2027.
Forgetting drug coverage when returning to Original Medicare. If you drop Advantage and go back to Original Medicare, you'll usually want to add a stand-alone Part D plan. Going without creditable drug coverage can lead to a lifelong late-enrollment penalty.
Waiting until late March. Effective dates take time. Enroll early enough that your new coverage kicks in when you need it.
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 Shawnee County
(MA penetration in Shawnee 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.
Higher-income surcharges
2026 IRMAA income brackets
If your income is above a threshold, you pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on top of your Part B and Part D premiums. Your 2027 surcharge will be based on your 2025 tax return. CMS publishes the 2027 Part B premium and the 2027 IRMAA brackets and surcharges later in the fall, usually in November.
| Income — single filer | Income — married, joint | Part B monthly premium | Part D surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | Plan premium only |
| $109,001 – $137,000 | $218,001 – $274,000 | $284.10 | + $14.50 |
| $137,001 – $171,000 | $274,001 – $342,000 | $405.80 | + $37.40 |
| $171,001 – $205,000 | $342,001 – $410,000 | $527.50 | + $60.40 |
| $205,001 – $500,000 | $410,001 – $750,000 | $649.30 | + $83.30 |
| Above $500,000 | Above $750,000 | $689.90 | + $91.00 |
Standard Part B premium is $202.90/month. Part D surcharges are added to your drug plan’s premium. Married-filing-separately uses a different, compressed schedule. Confirm current amounts at Medicare.gov.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
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.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans more than once between January and March?
I'm on Original Medicare in Topeka. Can I use this window to join an Advantage plan?
What are Star Ratings, and should I use them?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.