Medicare Part D
North Charleston: What You Can Change Jan. 1–March 31
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during the fall Annual Enrollment Period and are now second-guessing that choice, take a breath. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31, and it gives you one clean shot to make a change before your coverage locks in for the rest of the year.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 and lets people already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, 2027 make one change before that year's coverage locks in.
- This window does not apply to people in Original Medicare, who generally must wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- Only one change is allowed during this period, and it takes effect the first day of the month after you make it.
- Before switching plans, it helps to gather your prescription list, your doctors and hospitals, and your 2027 Annual Notice of Change, then compare options on medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or talk to your local SHIP counselor for free help.
A second chance, built into the calendar
This window matters for a specific group of people — mostly those already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1 — and the rules about what you can and can't do during it are narrower than most people realize.
Who this window is really for
The MA OEP is for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1, 2027. If that's you, and your new plan isn't turning out the way you expected — maybe your doctor isn't in-network, a prescription isn't covered the way you thought, or the plan simply feels wrong — you have until March 31 to correct course.
If you are in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1, this period does not apply to you. You would generally need to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
What you can change between Jan. 1 and March 31
During the MA OEP you can:
- 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. If you do this, you can also join a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
You get one change during this window — not unlimited swaps. Whatever you pick takes effect the first day of the following month.
What you cannot do
The MA OEP is narrower than the fall window. During January through March you cannot:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Join a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying in Original Medicare and weren't already eligible to do so.
- Change from one stand-alone Part D plan to another if you're in Original Medicare.
Those moves generally had to happen during the Annual Enrollment Period that ended December 7.
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 Charleston County
(MA penetration in Charleston 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.
2027 changes worth knowing before you switch
Even if you're happy with your current plan, a few program-wide changes for 2027 are worth understanding as you weigh a move:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that amount in 2027, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible maximum: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). Plans can set their deductible at or below this amount.
- No more coverage gap. The old "donut hole" was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your drug costs into level monthly payments across the year instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter. You can opt in through your drug plan.
- IRMAA thresholds. Higher-income beneficiaries pay extra for Part B and Part D. In 2026, those surcharges start above $109,000 in income for a single filer (based on your 2024 tax return).
What's available around North Charleston
North Charleston is in Charleston County, where Medicare plan availability — the number of Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone Part D plans offered — is set at the county level by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). To see the current count of plans available where you live, use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code. That's the only source that reflects real-time, county-accurate availability.
How to actually make a smart switch
Before you change plans, gather three things:
1. Your prescription list — exact names, doses, and how often you take them. 2. Your doctors and preferred hospitals — check that any new plan's network includes them. 3. Your 2027 Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — the document your current plan mailed you this fall showing what changes for next year.
Then compare on medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. South Carolina's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), called SHIP-SC locally, offers free, unbiased one-on-one counseling — no sales pressure.
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
Q: I just enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time this January. Can I go back to Original Medicare?
Q: Can I switch my Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy during this window?
Q: If I switch plans in February, when does the new coverage start?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.