Medicare Advantage

Roswell Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: One Change Allowed

Fulton County has 90 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 16 plans are not coming back, 9 are new, and 29 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 9 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Roswell, not which plan to pick.

ROSWELL, Ga. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during the fall and are already having second thoughts, take a breath. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you a chance to make one change. It's a quieter enrollment window than the fall rush, but for people who picked a plan that isn't fitting the way they hoped, it can be a real relief.

Roswell seniors get a second look at Medicare Advantage this winter

This period is set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and applies nationwide, including here in Roswell and the rest of Fulton County.

What you can actually change between Jan. 1 and March 31

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often called MA-OEP) is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period. During these three months, if you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 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).
• Add a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan if you go back to Original Medicare.

You get one change during this window. Whatever you pick takes effect the first day of the following month.

What you cannot do during this window

This is where people trip up. The MA-OEP is not a do-over for everyone. During January through March, you generally cannot:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (if you weren't in one on January 1).
• Join a Part D plan if you're staying on Original Medicare and didn't have one already.
• Change from one stand-alone Part D plan to another (if you're on Original Medicare).

Those moves belong to the fall Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) or to a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify for one — for example, after a move or a change in Medicaid status.

Why 2027 is a good year to double-check your coverage

A few program-level changes make it worth reviewing your plan carefully this season:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: In 2026, your out-of-pocket spending on covered prescription drugs is capped at $2,100. Once you hit that, you pay $0 for the rest of the calendar year on covered Part D drugs.
• Part D deductible: The maximum allowed deductible is $615 in 2026 (plans can charge less).
• No more donut hole: As of 2025, the old coverage gap is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can choose to spread your drug costs out into predictable monthly payments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related surcharge on Parts B and D. For 2026, this generally starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

If your prescription list, doctors, or health needs changed since fall, those figures may hit your wallet differently than you expected.

How to decide whether to make a move

Before you switch, pull out your plan's Evidence of Coverage and Annual Notice of Change — the packet your plan mailed you in the fall. Then walk through a few honest questions:

1. Are your doctors still in network? Provider networks can change January 1. If your primary care doctor or a specialist in the North Fulton area is no longer in-network, that alone is worth a call. 2. Are your prescriptions still covered the same way? Formularies (drug lists) change too. A drug that was on a lower tier last year could be on a higher one now. 3. Are the copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum something you can actually plan around? Look at the numbers on paper, not just the monthly premium. 4. Do the extras you were promised match how you actually use care? Extra benefits are nice, but only if you'll use them.

If the plan still fits, doing nothing is a perfectly good answer.

How much choice is on the table locally

Roswell is in Fulton County, where Medicare beneficiaries typically have a wide selection of Medicare Advantage plans offered by multiple carriers. Metro Atlanta counties tend to have more options than rural parts of Georgia, which can be both a blessing and a headache — more choices means more comparing.

The most reliable way to see exactly what's available at your address is the Plan Finder at medicare.gov. It lets you enter your ZIP code, your medications, and your preferred pharmacies, and it shows you the plans side by side.

Where to get unbiased help in Roswell

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to talk to a salesperson to get answers.

• Medicare.gov — the official site for enrollment periods, Plan Finder, and coverage rules.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
• Georgia Cares, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Georgia. SHIP counselors provide free, one-on-one Medicare help and are not tied to any plan or carrier. You can reach Georgia Cares at 1-866-552-4464.