When can I switch Medicare plans in Oregon?

Open enrollment: October 15 to December 7

This is Medicare's main yearly window, and for 2027 coverage it runs through December 7, 2026. During it you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or back.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, switch or drop a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

Changes start January 1. If you do nothing and your plan renews, you stay in it. For 2027, CMS lists 61 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in Oregon and 8 stand-alone Part D plans, but what you can choose depends on your county. See Medicare by Oregon county.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 to March 31

If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one change by March 31:

• Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or
• Leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, and join a Part D plan at the same time.

The change starts the first day of the next month. Details: what is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

Special enrollment periods

Certain events let you change plans at other times. Ones Oregonians often use:

• Your plan is ending. Some Oregon plans don't renew for 2027. You have until February 28, 2027; choose by December 31, 2026 for no gap. See plans ending in 2027.
• You move out of your plan's service area, or to a place with new plan choices.
• You lose job-based coverage, or your employer or union coverage changes.
• You get or lose OHP or Extra Help. People with both get extra chances to change during the year.
• A declared emergency or disaster, such as a wildfire, kept you from making a change you were eligible to make (42 CFR 422.62(b)(18)). See wildfire special enrollment.

Medigap follows different rules

Medigap policies aren't tied to open enrollment; outside a protected window the company can ask health questions. Oregon gives current Medigap policyholders a yearly window around their birthday to move to a policy with the same or lesser benefits without health questions. See does Oregon have a Medigap birthday rule.

To compare plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or see plans for your ZIP code.

Related questions

Sources

• Medicare.gov — Joining a health or drug plan
• Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods
• eCFR — 42 CFR 422.62, election of coverage under an MA plan
• Oregon Administrative Rules — OAR 836-052-0143, annual opportunity to select another Medicare supplement policy
• CMS — Medicare Advantage and Part D contract and enrollment data (CY2027 Landscape file)

More questions in this guide

• How do I choose a Medicare plan in Oregon?
• What are the Medicare deadlines in Oregon for 2027?
• What is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January to March)?
• What should I do if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving my Oregon county?
• Which Medicare plans are ending in Oregon in 2027?

Part of the guide: Medicare Open Enrollment in Oregon (2027 Plans) · All questions

Frequently asked questions

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