Medicare Advantage

Why Albuquerque Has a Second Medicare Advantage Window

People in Albuquerque can choose from 36 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 51 this year. 24 of this year’s plans are gone, 9 are new to Bernalillo County, and 22 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 9 of them under a new name.

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Medicare Advantage options in your area

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2027 PLAN ALERT

Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.

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Thoughtful older woman at window in Albuquerque — illustrating this Medicare guide — Photo: mali desha Photo by mali desha on Unsplash

By The Medicare Desk · Medicare Education Desk

Published 2026-09-17·Updated 2026-10-01·8 min read·✓ Reviewed·● Albuquerque, NM

ALBUQUERQUE — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during the fall and now feel like it isn't the right fit, you have a second chance. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you one shot to change course before the rest of the year locks in.

Key takeaways

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 and lets you make one change during that window.
You must already be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1 to use this period — it is not open to people with only Original Medicare.
You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop your Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (and add a stand-alone Part D plan).
Albuquerque is in Bernalillo County, where multiple Medicare Advantage plans and carriers are offered; you can compare them on medicare.gov.

This window is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and the rules about what you can and can't do are specific. Here's what Albuquerque residents should know.

What this period is — and who it's for

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA OEP) is set by CMS and runs the same three months every year: January 1 to March 31. It exists so people who joined a Medicare Advantage plan can fix a mismatch without waiting until the next fall.

To use it, you must already be in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you have only Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), this window does not apply to you.

What you can do between January and March

During this window, you can make one change. Your options are:

Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
Leave Medicare Advantage entirely and go back to Original Medicare. If you do that, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

The change takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

What you can't do in this window

The MA OEP is not a free-for-all. A few things are off the table:

You cannot use it to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you're in Original Medicare.
You cannot use it to join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying on Original Medicare the whole time.
You cannot make multiple changes — only one switch counts.

For those broader moves, the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) is the main window.

Why timing matters for 2027 coverage

A few program-level changes are worth keeping in mind as you compare 2027 coverage:

Part D has an out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, which limits what you pay for covered prescriptions in a calendar year.
The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
The old coverage gap, or "donut hole," was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy.

These are national rules, not plan features. But they change the math for how your drug coverage works, which is a common reason people rethink an Advantage plan early in the year.

Comparing plans in the Albuquerque area

Albuquerque is in Bernalillo County, where Medicare Advantage plans are offered by several carriers. Plan availability is set at the county level by CMS, not by city or ZIP code alone. To see the full list of plans available where you live — along with their networks, drug formularies, and star ratings — the official tool is the Plan Finder at medicare.gov.

Star Ratings, which run from 1 to 5, are CMS's way of measuring plan quality on things like customer service, member complaints, and how well the plan manages chronic conditions. They can be one useful piece of information when you compare options.

Where to get unbiased help

Before you switch, it helps to talk with someone who isn't selling anything. In New Mexico, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — known locally as Benefits Counseling through the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department — offers free, one-on-one counseling for Medicare beneficiaries.

You can also:

Visit medicare.gov to compare plans and read the official rules.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.

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 Bernalillo County

59% are on Medicare Advantage
(MA penetration in Bernalillo County)

59%

41%

Medicare Advantage Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Original Medicare only

U.S. average

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.

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Medicare Advantage companies in Bernalillo County

By local enrollment size · informational, not a ranking

Company	Local enrollment	Plans offered	Local agents
Presbyterian Healthcare ServicesRegional	36%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
UnitedHealthcareNational	21%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)Regional	20%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
HumanaNational	19%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Scan GroupRegional	1%of MA enrollment	—	Yes
Aetna (CVS Health)National	1%of MA enrollment	—	Yes

Prefer to talk? Speak with a licensed agent

Enrollment data: CMS Medicare Advantage enrollment by company (county level). Figures shown are illustrative sample data pending the current CMS file. Listed by enrollment size, largest first — this is not a ranking, recommendation, or endorsement of any company or plan.

What changes next year

Medicare Advantage plans leaving or changing in Bernalillo County for 2027

Albuquerque is in Bernalillo County. Comparing CMS’s 2026 and 2027 Landscape files for the county:

Not offered for 2027

New for 2027

Renamed

Changing (see your ANOC)

Continuing

Plans not offered in Bernalillo County for 2027

Plan	Carrier	Type
Blue Cross MA Dual Care Plus Preferred (PPO D-SNP)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	PPO D-SNP
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Balance (PPO)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	PPO
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Choice Premier (PPO)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	PPO
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Classic (PPO)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	PPO
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dental Premier (PPO)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	PPO
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	HMO D-SNP
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Health Choice (PPO)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	PPO
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Optimum (PPO)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	PPO
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Select (HMO)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	HMO
CHRISTUS Health Medicare Guardian (HMO)	CHRISTUS Health Advantage	HMO
CHRISTUS Health Medicare Plus (HMO)	CHRISTUS Health Advantage	HMO
Humana Together in Health (PPO I-SNP)	Humana	PPO I-SNP
HumanaChoice H5216-196 (PPO)	Humana	PPO
HumanaChoice H5216-437 (PPO)	Humana	PPO
Molina Medicare Complete Care (HMO D-SNP)	Molina Healthcare of Arizona	HMO D-SNP
Presbyterian Senior Care Extra Health Plan with Rx (HMO)	Presbyterian Health Plan	HMO
Presbyterian Senior Care Plan 1 (HMO)	Presbyterian Health Plan	HMO
Presbyterian Senior Care Plan 2 with Rx (HMO)	Presbyterian Health Plan	HMO
Presbyterian Senior Care Plan 3 with Rx (HMO)	Presbyterian Health Plan	HMO
SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP)	SCAN Health Plan	HMO C-SNP
SCAN Classic (HMO)	SCAN Health Plan	HMO
SCAN MyChoice (HMO)	SCAN Health Plan	HMO
SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP)	SCAN Health Plan	HMO C-SNP
UHC Dual Complete NM-Y1 (PPO D-SNP)	UnitedHealthcare	PPO D-SNP

Plans new to Bernalillo County for 2027

Plan	Carrier	Type
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care (HMO-POS D-SNP)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	HMO-POS D-SNP
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO-POS D-SNP)	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	HMO-POS D-SNP
DEVOTED C-SNP GIVEBACK EXTRAS 012 NM (HMO C-SNP)	Devoted Health	HMO C-SNP
DEVOTED GIVEBACK EXTRAS 015 NM (HMO)	Devoted Health	HMO
Molina Medicare Complete Care (HMO D-SNP)	Molina Healthcare of New Mexico	HMO D-SNP
AARP Medicare Advantage Direct OTC from UHC NM-14 (PPO)	UnitedHealthcare	PPO
AARP Medicare Advantage Direct Plus from UHC NM-15 (PPO)	UnitedHealthcare	PPO
AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC NM-12 (PPO)	UnitedHealthcare	PPO
UHC Dual Complete NM-S2 (PPO D-SNP)	UnitedHealthcare	PPO D-SNP

Plans continuing under a new name

Plan	Carrier	Type
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO-POS) (was Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO))	Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)	HMO
DEVOTED C-SNP ENHANCED 003 NM (HMO C-SNP) (was DEVOTED C-SNP 003 NM (HMO C-SNP))	Devoted Health	HMO C-SNP
Humana Essentials Plus Giveback (PPO) (was Humana Essentials Plus Giveback H5216-435 (PPO))	Humana	PPO
Humana Full Access (PPO) (was Humana Full Access H7617-069 (PPO))	Humana	PPO
Humana Total Complete (HMO) (was Humana Total Complete H4461-064 (HMO))	Humana	HMO
Humana Value Choice (PPO) (was Humana Value Choice H5216-078 (PPO))	Humana	PPO
AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC NM-4 (PPO) (was AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NM-0004 (PPO))	UnitedHealthcare	PPO
UHC Dual Advantage NM-V1 (PPO D-SNP) (was UHC Dual Complete NM-V1 (PPO D-SNP))	UnitedHealthcare	PPO D-SNP
UHC Dual Complete NM-Q1 (PPO D-SNP) (was UHC Dual Complete NM-S1 (PPO D-SNP))	UnitedHealthcare	PPO D-SNP

Carriers with no plans in Bernalillo County for 2027: CHRISTUS Health Advantage, Molina Healthcare of Arizona, SCAN Health Plan

Carriers new to Bernalillo County for 2027: Molina Healthcare of New Mexico

“Changing” means the plan’s 2027 record differs from 2026 on premium, drug deductible, plan type or name; the details are in the Annual Notice of Change your plan mails by September 30. If your plan is not offered for 2027, you can choose another during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) and you also get a Special Enrollment Period that runs through the end of February. Source: CMS MA Landscape Source Files. No plan is ranked or recommended.

Provided by licensed insurance partners; MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated. Not a ranking or endorsement of any plan.

Explore

When can you enroll? An interactive year

JFMAMJJASOND

October 15 – December 7 — anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.

Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.

Explore

The parts of Medicare

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period to join Part D if I'm on Original Medicare?

No. Stand-alone Part D changes for people staying on Original Medicare are not allowed in this window. Those are usually handled during the fall Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, or through a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify.

How many times can I switch during January to March?

Only once. The change goes into effect on the first day of the month after your new plan receives the enrollment.

What happens if I go back to Original Medicare — do I lose drug coverage?

Not automatically, but you'll want to think ahead. If you leave a Medicare Advantage plan that included drug coverage, you can join a stand-alone Part D plan during this same window so you don't have a gap in prescription coverage.

Where can I get help comparing plans in Albuquerque?

Start with medicare.gov's Plan Finder, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or reach out to New Mexico's SHIP counselors for free, unbiased guidance. Bernalillo County has multiple plans and carriers, so it's worth taking the time to compare.

Sources & further reading

CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)

For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.

Also for Albuquerque

Medicare Supplement in Albuquerque Medicare Part D in Albuquerque

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This page was last updated: October 1, 2026.