Need to Review or Change Your Medicare Advantage Plan? Open Enrollment is Here.

The window to make changes or drop your Medicare Advantage (MA) plan closes on March 31, so there’s time to get a benefits checkup to make sure the plan still fits your current health care needs.

MA plan benefits change year to year, making it important to review your plan. For example, it may no longer cover all your medications or your eye-care needs.

From Jan. 1 through March 31, you can switch to another MA plan – with or without prescription drug coverage – drop the Medicare Advantage plan you have and go back to having Part A and B (“Original Medicare”), and/or join a standalone Part D (prescription drug) plan.

The period, called Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, is meant for those who have a MA plan.

“We have open enrollment for Original Medicare, but it is just as important for people with a Medicare Advantage plan to make sure it is right for their needs,’’ says Crystal Turbett, Senior Manager of Aging and Disability Resources at AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services.

Medicare Advantage Plans

• Medicare Advantage plans combine Part A and Part B Medicare and typically offer more benefits, such as prescription drug, vision, hearing, and dental coverage. They are offered by private companies that contract with the Medicare program.
• Some MA plans have zero or low monthly premiums, but there may be higher out-of-pocket costs if you visit the doctor often. Each Medicare Advantage plan sets its own maximum, but it cannot exceed the federal limit for 2026, which is $9,250.
• MA plans are more restricted than Original Medicare, including requiring referrals and prior authorization, annual plan changes, and more.
• If you have a MA plan, you’ll still pay the monthly premium for Part B, which in 2026 is $206.50 for most people.
• Deductibles, or the amount you pay before your Medicare plan takes over coverage, vary according to your plan.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Assistance

AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services’ MI Options Medicare Assistance Program is offering phone and virtual appointments with certified counselors during Open Enrollment through March 31. MI Options continues to hold regular scheduled appointments at various senior centers and libraries.

Individuals (or couples) will talk one-on-one with a counselor, who will help them evaluate their needs for the coming year. MI Options counselors offer unbiased help; they are not affiliated with health insurance companies.

Changes made to your Medicare Advantage plan go into effect the first of the month.

Appointments for a review of your MA plan are available by calling 800-803-7174 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays or 248-262-0545 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

This program is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $337,726.