Medicare Advantage
One Medicare Advantage Change Allowed in Hillsboro This Window
HILLSBORO, Ore. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last fall and something about it isn't sitting right, you still have time to act. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, and it gives current Advantage enrollees a second chance to make one change before the year locks in.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year, and it's only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- During this window you can make one change — switch to a different Advantage plan or drop Advantage and return 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 this spring window, you generally must wait until the next fall unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- For personalized help, call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit medicare.gov, or contact Oregon's SHIBA program, the state's SHIP counselor service.
This window is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and it comes with its own rules about who can use it and what kinds of switches are allowed. Here's how the dates line up — and what happens if you miss them.
Who this window is for
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (often shortened to MA OEP) is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you're on Original Medicare only, this window is not for you — your next scheduled chance to join an Advantage plan is the fall Annual Enrollment Period.
Hillsboro sits in Washington County, where residents choose from a wide slate of Medicare Advantage plans offered by multiple carriers. Whichever plan you landed on in the fall, you get this spring window to reconsider — once.
The one-change rule
During January 1 – March 31, you can do one of the following:
- Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare. If you do this, you can also join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
You cannot use this window to join an Advantage plan for the first time from Original Medicare, and you cannot use it to switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another. It is truly a "second look" period for Advantage enrollees only.
The change takes effect the first day of the month after the plan gets your request. So a switch made in February typically starts March 1.
How the dates fit together
Think of the Medicare calendar as three main doors:
- Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7): The broad fall window. Anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop Advantage and Part D plans. Changes start January 1.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31): The narrower spring window described here.
- Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Triggered by life events — moving out of a plan's service area, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid, and similar situations.
If you're new to Medicare, you also have your own Initial Enrollment Period tied to your 65th birthday (or disability eligibility). That's separate from the annual cycle.
What happens if you miss March 31
If the March 31 deadline passes and none of the Special Enrollment Periods apply to you, you'll generally be locked into your current Medicare Advantage plan until the next Annual Enrollment Period in the fall, with changes taking effect the following January 1.
That's a long stretch. It's worth checking a few things well before March 31:
- Are your regular doctors and preferred Hillsboro-area hospitals still in the plan's network for 2027?
- Are your prescriptions still on the plan's formulary, and at a tier you can manage?
- Does the plan still cover the extras you rely on (for example, dental, vision, or transportation benefits)?
A quick review now is easier than waiting nine months to fix something.
A few program facts worth knowing for 2027
Whether you stay put or switch, some Medicare-wide numbers to keep in mind as 2027 coverage begins:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can charge less).
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") has been gone since 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your annual drug costs into monthly payments if that helps your budget.
- IRMAA income-related surcharges for higher earners begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.
These figures come from Medicare and apply nationwide.
Where to get unbiased help in Hillsboro
You don't have to sort this out alone. Free, one-on-one Medicare counseling is available through Oregon's SHIBA program (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance), the state's federally recognized SHIP. Counselors don't sell plans and don't earn commissions.
You can also:
- Visit medicare.gov to compare plans in your ZIP code using the Plan Finder.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
- Check with the Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services office for local resources.
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 Washington County
(MA penetration in Washington 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 join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time between January and March?
How many changes can I make during the spring window?
If I go back to Original Medicare in February, can I add a drug plan?
What if my situation changed — I moved, lost other coverage, or qualified for Extra Help?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Hillsboro
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This page was last updated: September 30, 2026.