Medicare Advantage
Jan 1–March 31: Fairmont's Medicare Advantage Change Window
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during fall enrollment and are already having second thoughts, you're not stuck. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, giving people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan a second chance to make one change.
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Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31, 2027, letting people already in a Medicare Advantage plan make one change.
- This window only applies if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, and you can only use it once during those three months.
- People on Original Medicare can't use this period and generally must wait for fall Annual Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- Plan choices are based on your county, so Fairmont residents can check what's available in Marion County using the Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov.
One shot to fix your Medicare Advantage choice — and it starts Jan. 1
This period isn't as widely advertised as the fall Annual Enrollment Period, but for Fairmont residents who realized their new plan doesn't cover a favorite doctor, includes an unexpected drug tier, or just isn't the right fit, it can be a lifeline.
Who can use this enrollment window
The MA-OEP is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If that's you, this window is open. If you're on Original Medicare (Parts A and B), the MA-OEP does not apply to you — you generally need to wait for fall Annual Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
You can only use the MA-OEP once during the three-month window. Once you make a change, that's your move for the season.
What you CAN change between Jan. 1 and March 31
During the MA-OEP, you're allowed to:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another 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 drop back to Original Medicare.
Any change you make takes effect the first day of the month after the plan receives your enrollment request.
What you CAN'T change during this window
The MA-OEP is narrower than fall enrollment. During January through March, you cannot:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join or switch a stand-alone Part D plan if you're staying on Original Medicare (without a qualifying event).
- Change Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies — those follow separate rules and medical underwriting may apply outside your initial Medigap window.
If any of these are what you need, you may have to wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period in the fall — or check whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a move, loss of coverage, or other life change.
Fairmont is in Marion County — here's how availability works
Medicare plan choices are set at the county level, not the city level. Fairmont is in Marion County, so the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available to you are the ones CMS has approved for Marion County residents.
To see the full list of what's offered locally, use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code. That tool lets you compare plans side by side, check whether specific doctors and pharmacies are in network, and see how your prescriptions would be covered.
A few Part D program facts worth knowing before you switch
Even if you're just tweaking your Medicare Advantage plan, these Part D rules now apply across the board:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug costs hit that ceiling, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments, instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. You have to opt in.
- IRMAA (the income-related premium surcharge) starts 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 Marion County
(MA penetration in Marion 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 just enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan during the fall. Can I really change it again?
If I drop my Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare, will I automatically have drug coverage?
Can I switch Medigap policies during this window?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.