Quick answer: If you are already on a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31 each year. You get one change: switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or drop Advantage and go back to Original Medicare with a Part D drug plan. The new coverage starts the first day of the month after you make the change. It is not a second Annual Enrollment Period, and it does not apply if you only have Original Medicare.
Many people in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach and the rest of Volusia County pick a plan during the fall, then find out in January that a doctor is not in network or a drug costs more than expected. This window is your chance to fix that. Use the checklist below before you make your one change.
Who can use it
- Yes: you were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, or you are new to Medicare and joined an Advantage plan (new enrollees get a window during their first three months of Medicare).
- No: you have Original Medicare only, with or without a Part D plan. You cannot use this window to join Advantage or to switch Part D plans on their own.
- Other windows may apply: moving, losing other coverage, Extra Help, Medicaid, or living in a facility can open a Special Enrollment Period with different rules.
AEP vs the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
| Annual Enrollment (AEP) | Advantage Open Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | October 15 to December 7 | January 1 to March 31 |
| Who | Everyone with Medicare | People already on Medicare Advantage |
| Changes | As many as you like; the last one counts | One change only |
| Join Advantage from Original Medicare | Yes | No |
| Switch Part D only | Yes | No (only when leaving Advantage) |
What you can change
- Move from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, with or without drug coverage.
- Leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare and join a standalone Part D plan at the same time.
A Medicare Supplement is a separate decision. If you go back to Original Medicare and want a Supplement, the insurance company in Florida can usually ask health questions and may decline you, unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right (such as trying Advantage for the first time within the last 12 months). Get a Supplement approved before you give up your Advantage plan.
Your checklist before you switch
1. Doctors
Confirm your primary care doctor and every specialist you cannot lose are in the new plan's network. Call the office and ask whether they accept that exact plan, not just the insurance company. Know whether the plan is an HMO (referrals and in network care) or a PPO (some out of network coverage at a higher cost).
2. Prescriptions and pharmacy
List every medication with its dose. Check each one on the plan's formulary for its tier, prior authorization, step therapy and quantity limits. Confirm your pharmacy is preferred, and check mail order pricing.
3. Hospitals and facilities
Check the hospitals, imaging centers, labs and therapy offices you use in Volusia County against the plan's provider directory. Networks are set by county and ZIP code, so a plan your neighbor likes may not work the same for you.
4. Total cost
Compare more than the premium: deductibles, copays for the care you actually use, drug costs, and the maximum out of pocket. In 2026, the in network out of pocket limit on Medicare Advantage can be as high as $9,250. Extras like dental, vision and fitness change by plan and by year, so read the details.
5. Make your one change carefully
Because you only get one change in this window, check everything before you enroll. Use the Medicare.gov Plan Finder or have us compare plans side by side for your ZIP code.
6. After you switch
Watch for your new ID card and welcome kit, keep your old card until the new plan starts, and confirm your prescriptions transfer to the new plan.
Get a face to face review in South Daytona
USA Benefits Group (HealthBrokerFL) is an independent agency at 913 Big Tree Road in South Daytona. I have been licensed for 14 years, and we are appointed with 80+ insurance companies and licensed in 30+ states. There is no cost to you because the insurance company pays us, and your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own.
Bring: your Medicare card, your current plan ID card, your list of doctors, and your medication list with doses.
Call or text 386-401-5644 or email ncurry@healthbrokerfl.com. Office hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, and Saturday by appointment. Related: Medicare AEP in Volusia County and Medicare Advantage vs Supplement in Florida.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?
January 1 to March 31 every year. New Medicare enrollees on an Advantage plan also get a window during their first three months of Medicare.
Who can use it?
Only people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. If you have Original Medicare, use the fall Annual Enrollment Period instead.
How many changes can I make?
One. You can switch Advantage plans, or leave Advantage for Original Medicare plus a Part D plan.
If I leave Medicare Advantage, can I get a Medicare Supplement?
Maybe. In Florida a Supplement company can usually ask health questions unless you have a guaranteed issue right. Apply and get approved before you drop your Advantage plan.
When does my new plan start?
The first day of the month after the plan receives your enrollment.
Does it cost extra to use your agency?
No. There is no cost to you because the insurance company pays us.
We represent all of the Medicare plan organizations available in Volusia County. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.