The Medicare Advantage Open enrollment period runs each year from January 1st through March 31st each year. During this time, individuals in Medicare Advantage can make one change to another Medicare Advantage plan or drop to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. There is till time to make a change (before March 31). If you have questions about this, please reach out to Missouri SHIP directly.
A concerning article published in Managed Healthcare Executive last October, based on a survey conducted by eHealth, reported that only 51% of Medicare beneficiaries were planning to review their Medicare plan for 2026, down from 63% the prior year.
The annual open enrollment period is over, but those in Medicare Advantage continue to have the ability to change through March 31st. Now is the time to confirm your doctors and other providers are IN THE NETWORK for 2026. Once the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period ends, you will not be able to make a change to your plan just because your doctors are not in the network. Based on specific circumstances, you may qualify for a special enrollment period for another reason.
Another big change was to the premium for some stand-alone Part D plans. One plan in our area went from $44.90 to $94.90 a month. This caught some people by surprise. Unless you receive Extra Help from Social Security, you likely do not have a special enrollment period opportunity. If you do have Extra Help, you may have an opportunity to change plans. This is a BIG reason to read the Annual Notice of Change each September.
If you found your plan ended, you may have a 2 month Special Enrollment Period to pick another plan. Please contact Missouri SHIP directly to discuss your situation.
If this creates more questions for you, please reach out to Missouri SHIP to talk it through with a counselor. You can easily reach a SHIP counselor by calling Missouri SHIP at 1-800-390-3330.
Rebecca Rabbitt Pogorzels, Pharm.D., R.Ph, certified counselor, Missouri SHIP.