Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage in Raleigh: switching Jan 1 to March 31
People in Raleigh can choose from 63 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 77 this year. 19 of this year’s plans are gone, 5 are new to Wake County, and 35 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 15 of them under a new name.
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RALEIGH, N.C. — For Raleigh residents already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, a second chance to change course opens January 1 and closes March 31. This window, called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP), is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period — but for people who signed up in the fall and then realized the plan does not fit, it is often the difference between being stuck for a year and getting things right.
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year and is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- You get one switch during this window: to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare (with the option to add a stand-alone Part D plan).
- If you miss both the fall Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15–Dec. 7) and the MA OEP, you generally wait until next fall unless a Special Enrollment Period applies.
- Any change you make during MA OEP takes effect the first day of the following month.
What the MA OEP is — and who it is for
The MA OEP is a January-to-March window written specifically for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you are in Original Medicare on January 1, this window does not apply to you.
During MA OEP, you can make one change. That change can be:
- Switching to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage), or
- Dropping your Medicare Advantage plan and returning to Original Medicare, and if you do that, joining a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
You cannot use MA OEP to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time from Original Medicare, and you cannot use it to pick up a stand-alone Part D plan if you are staying in Original Medicare without having just left an Advantage plan.
How the dates line up
Two enrollment windows sit back-to-back, and it helps to see them together:
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. This is the big one. Anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. Changes take effect January 1.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. A do-over window, but only if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1.
A change made during MA OEP is effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request. So a February switch usually starts March 1; a March switch starts April 1.
What happens if you miss the window
If neither AEP nor MA OEP works out, you generally have to wait until the next fall AEP to make changes. There are two important exceptions.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Certain life events open a personal enrollment window outside these dates — for example, moving out of your plan's service area, losing other coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid. If something big changes in your life, call Medicare before assuming you have to wait.
5-star SEP. Once a year, between Dec. 8 and Nov. 30, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan that carries an overall 5-star rating from CMS, if one is offered where you live. Star Ratings are CMS's quality measure; they exist to inform, not to steer you toward any particular plan.
Raleigh in context
Raleigh sits in Wake County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. That means the menu of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can choose from during either window is the Wake County menu — a neighbor in Durham or Johnston County may have a different set of choices. The official plan finder at medicare.gov will show you what is available at your ZIP code.
A few 2027 numbers worth knowing before you switch
Whichever window you use, these program-level figures apply in 2027 and are worth checking against any plan you are considering:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Plans can set a lower deductible, but not a higher one.
- Coverage gap: The old "donut hole" is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: An optional program that lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA: Higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
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 Wake County
(MA penetration in Wake 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
Can I use the MA OEP to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time?
How many changes can I make between January and March?
When does my new coverage start if I switch in February?
Where can I get free, unbiased help in Raleigh?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Raleigh
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This page was last updated: October 1, 2026.