Medicare Supplement
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment in Columbia: Plan Changes Allowed
If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during fall enrollment and now have second thoughts, you have time to change course. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2026, and it exists for exactly this reason — to give people one clean chance to correct a plan choice that isn't working.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2026, giving people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan one chance to switch plans or move back to Original Medicare.
- After March 31, most people can't change Medicare Advantage plans again until fall unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, such as moving or losing other coverage.
- Provider networks and plan availability can change starting January 1, so it's worth confirming your doctors are still in-network and checking the Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare for what's offered in your county.
- If you drop Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, you need to add a stand-alone Part D plan or you could face a late-enrollment penalty later, and note that switching plans doesn't change an IRMAA surcharge, which is tied to your tax return.
Columbia, Md. — A three-month window to fix a Medicare Advantage choice starts Jan. 1
This isn't the same as the fall Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). The rules are narrower, the timing is tighter, and mistakes here are common. Here's what Columbia-area readers should know before making a move.
What you can — and can't — do between January and March
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is limited on purpose. If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 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). If you do this, you can also add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
What you cannot do during this window:
- You can't use it to switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another if you're on Original Medicare.
- You can't join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you were on Original Medicare on Jan. 1.
- You only get one change during this period. Once you make a switch, that's your move for the quarter.
Source: CMS, Medicare enrollment periods.
Why this window matters more in 2026
A few program-level changes take effect in 2026 that could reshape whether your current plan still fits:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,100. Once your covered drug spending hits that ceiling, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible maximum of $615. Plans can charge less, but not more.
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy counter.
If your January drug bill was a shock, or if your plan's provider network changed, these are the kinds of details worth revisiting now — not next October.
What's available in the Columbia area
Columbia is in Howard County, where Medicare plan availability is set at the county level by CMS. That means two neighbors on opposite sides of the county line can see different lists of plans. The number of Medicare Advantage plans and carriers serving Howard County changes each year, and it's worth checking the official Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare rather than relying on a mailer or a TV ad.
Enter your ZIP code and, if you like, your prescription list. The tool will show what's offered in your county for 2026.
Common mistakes to avoid this quarter
1. Assuming your doctors are still in-network. Provider networks can shift on Jan. 1. Call the office and confirm before you commit. 2. Forgetting about drug coverage when leaving Medicare Advantage. If you drop back to Original Medicare, you need to add a stand-alone Part D plan or you could face a late-enrollment penalty later. 3. Missing the March 31 deadline. After that, most people can't change Medicare Advantage plans again until fall — unless a Special Enrollment Period applies (moving, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, etc.). 4. Ignoring IRMAA. If your income (single filer) is above $109,000, you may pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D. Switching plans doesn't change that — it's tied to your tax return.
How to make a confident decision
- Read the Annual Notice of Change your current plan mailed you in September. It spells out what's different for 2026.
- Compare plans on medicare.gov using your actual prescriptions and preferred pharmacies.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for free help, 24/7.
- Contact Maryland SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for one-on-one, unbiased counseling. In Howard County, SHIP counselors can walk through your options without trying to sell you anything.
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 Howard County
(MA penetration in Howard 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
The parts of 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.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: I'm happy with my Medicare Advantage plan. Do I need to do anything by March 31?
Q: I'm on Original Medicare with a Medigap policy. Can I use this period to switch to Medicare Advantage?
Q: If I drop my Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare, can I get a Medigap policy?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.