Medicare Advantage
Jan. 1–March 31, 2027: Switch Medicare Advantage in Topeka, KS
TOPEKA, Kan. — The calendar has flipped, and with it comes a Medicare deadline that many people in Shawnee County don't realize they have. From January 1 through March 31, anyone already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan gets one chance to change course before the window closes for another nine months.
Compare Medicare Advantage options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Advantage listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
This affects which Medicare Advantage options you can choose.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.
One call tells you whether your plan is on the list — before enrollment opens.
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
Want to see more plan options?
Answer a few more questions to continue to additional options from licensed partners.
Continue →Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240Found a plan you like online?
One free call confirms it's actually right for you — online directories are wrong more often than you'd think.
- Your doctors — confirmed in-network for 2027
- Your prescriptions — checked against the plan's 2027 drug tiers
855-729-3240 · free · about 5 minutes
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, and it is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- During this window you may switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare, but you can make only one change.
- This period is separate from the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), when anyone with Medicare can make broader choices.
- If you miss both windows, you generally have to wait until the next enrollment period unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
This is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, and it works differently from the fall Annual Enrollment Period that runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Knowing which window you're in — and what each one allows — is the difference between fixing a plan that isn't working and being stuck with it until next year.
Two windows, two different rulebooks
The fall Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) ended December 7. That was the big one — open to everyone with Medicare, and it allowed almost any kind of change: joining, switching, or dropping Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
The window that just opened, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP), is narrower on purpose. It is a chance for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan to correct course after seeing how their new coverage actually works in January.
Who this January-to-March window is for
You can use the MA-OEP only if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1, 2027. If you are in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) with or without a stand-alone Part D drug plan, this window does not apply to you.
If you are eligible, you can do one of two things between January 1 and March 31:
- Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. If you do that, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
You get one change during this window. Once it goes through, that's it until the next enrollment period.
What you cannot do right now
The MA-OEP is not a do-over for people who stayed in Original Medicare. During this window, you generally cannot:
- Join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you were in Original Medicare on January 1.
- Join a stand-alone Part D plan if you are staying in Original Medicare and did not have one.
- Switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another.
Those moves belong to the fall AEP or, in some cases, a Special Enrollment Period.
Deadlines, effective dates, and the clock
Any change made during the MA-OEP takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request. Make a change in February, and coverage typically starts March 1. Wait until March 31, and coverage starts May 1. That gap matters if you are trying to line up a new doctor visit or fill a prescription.
The March 31 deadline is firm. According to CMS, once it passes, you are locked into your current coverage until the next Annual Enrollment Period begins October 15 — unless a Special Enrollment Period opens for you.
What if you miss the window?
Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) exist for specific life events: moving out of your plan's service area, losing other coverage, qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help, or entering or leaving a nursing facility, among others. If one of these applies, you may be able to make a change outside the normal windows.
If none applies, the next chance to make a broad change is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
A quick note on what's changing for 2027
If part of what prompted a rethink is drug costs, keep a couple of Part D figures in mind. The annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The coverage gap — the old "donut hole" — was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four. Medicare also offers the Prescription Payment Plan, an optional way to spread drug costs across the year in monthly amounts.
Where to get personalized help in Topeka
Topeka is in Shawnee County, and residents here have access to the same free, unbiased help available across the state. The choice among plans is personal — it depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget — and no article can make that call for you.
For one-on-one guidance:
- Visit medicare.gov to compare plans and confirm coverage details.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Contact Kansas SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas), the state's SHIP program, for free local counseling.
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.
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
I'm in Original Medicare. Can I join a Medicare Advantage plan between January and March?
Can I change my stand-alone Part D drug plan during this window?
How many changes can I make between January 1 and March 31?
When will my new coverage actually start?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Topeka
Content Integrity Standards
- No invented figures. Program-level numbers come from CMS / Medicare.gov; we never use placeholder data.
- No plan rankings or recommendations. This is educational content. We don't rank, score, or recommend specific plans.
- AI-assisted, human-reviewed. Articles are produced with AI-assisted tools and reviewed by the responsible desk before publishing.
- Inline sourcing. Facts and figures are cited to primary sources — CMS, SSA, and Medicare.gov.
- Correction transparency. We fix errors openly and note when a page was last updated.
- Not a government site. MyMedicarePlans.org is privately owned and not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.