2026 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) — What Tampa Bay Medicare Beneficiaries Need to Know
If you already have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan and you start the new year thinking, “This plan isn’t working for me,” you may have another chance to fix it. That second chance is called the 2026 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP), which runs from January 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026.
In this article, I’m going to explain precisely how the 2026 MA-OEP works, who can use it, what changes you can (and can’t) make, and the real-world issues I see most often with Medicare Advantage plans here in the Tampa Bay area (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, and Citrus counties).
If I miss anything, email us at support@myphss.com, and we’ll help you get a clear answer.
Table of Contents
What is the 2026 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?
The MA-OEP is a Medicare enrollment window that lets people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan make a limited change after the year starts.
- Dates: January 1, 2026 – March 31, 2026
- Who it’s for: People who are currently in a Part C Advantage plan
This is different from the “Fall Open Enrollment” (also called the Annual Enrollment Period) that runs October 15 – December 7 each year. The MA-OEP is specifically a “new year cleanup window” for Medicare Advantage members who realize the plan they picked isn’t a good fit.
Who can use the MA-OEP in 2026 (and who can’t)
You CAN use MA-OEP if:
You are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, 2026.
You typically CANNOT use MA-OEP if:
You’re on Original Medicare (the red, white, and blue card) and you want to move into Medicare Advantage.
You have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan and want to “shop around” (Medigap works differently).
You’re trying to make multiple plan changes back-to-back (MA-OEP is limited, more on that below).
What you can do during the 2026 MA-OEP
During MA-OEP, Medicare says you can do two main things:
Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (and you can also join a separate Part D drug plan).
When does your change start?
In most cases, the change takes effect on the first day of the month after your request is received.
So, if you submit a change on February 10, your new coverage usually starts on March 1
What you cannot do during MA-OEP
This is where people get tripped up.
During MA-OEP, you generally cannot:
Switch from Original Medicare into Medicare Advantage (that’s not what this period is for).
Make unlimited changes. In practical terms, MA-OEP is meant to allow a single, limited adjustment, not ongoing shopping. (If you need flexibility beyond that, we look at whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.)
Why Tampa Bay residents use MA-OEP most often
Here are the most common reasons I see with clients across Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, Palm Harbor, New Port Richey, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Spring Hill, Brooksville, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Inverness, Crystal River, and Homosassa:
1) Doctor or hospital network surprises
A plan can look great on paper, but if your primary doctor, specialist, or preferred hospital system isn’t in-network, the costs and hassle can spike fast.
For 2026, CMS has pushed for more transparency so people can see provider network information more clearly when they shop and compare plans, which is helpful, especially if you’re trying to avoid another bad fit.
2) Prescription drug costs changed
Even if you like your medical coverage, drug costs can be the deal-breaker.
For 2026, the official Medicare handbook states that Part D out-of-pocket spending is capped at $2,100 for covered drugs. This matters because many Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage (MA-PD), so drug spending is a major factor in whether a plan still works for you.
Also, Medicare continues the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which can help you spread drug costs over the year instead of getting hit with large pharmacy bills early in the year (it doesn’t lower costs, but it can help with budgeting).
3) Benefits got smaller or rules got tighter
Across the country, 2026 has seen plan changes, some areas have fewer plan choices, and some plans have trimmed extras like dental/vision/hearing or changed copays. That’s one reason MA-OEP is so important: it gives you a chance to react once you see how the plan actually behaves in real life.
The most important warning before you drop Medicare Advantage
If you’re thinking about using MA-OEP to leave Medicare Advantage and go back to Original Medicare, that can be a smart move for some people, but you need to understand one big issue:
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) may not be guaranteed
When you move back to Original Medicare, many people want to add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan to help cover out-of-pocket costs. Depending on your situation and timing, Medigap could require medical underwriting, and approval isn’t always guaranteed.
This doesn’t mean “don’t do it.” It means do it carefully, in the right order, with professional guidance.
A simple “Tampa Bay MA-OEP” checklist (easy steps)
If you want to use MA-OEP the right way, here’s the step-by-step approach we recommend:
Make a list of your doctors and medications
Primary care, specialists, preferred hospitals
Your prescriptions (name, dose, frequency)
Confirm provider network status
Don’t assume last year’s network is the same this year.
Confirm your drugs are covered and what they cost
Formularies change year to year.
Decide your direction
Stay in Medicare Advantage but switch plans, or
Return to Original Medicare (and consider Part D, possibly with Medigap).
Submit the change and keep records
Take notes, save confirmation numbers, and keep letters you receive.
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