Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, allowing eligible beneficiaries to change their Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage for the coming year. Changes made during this window take effect January 1, 2027, provided the plan receives the enrollment request by December 7.
For beneficiaries and caregivers, the most useful preparation is a review of doctors, prescriptions and expected costs. A familiar plan name or a low monthly premium does not answer whether coverage will fit someone’s needs next year.
The dates to put on your calendar
| Date | What it means |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | Annual Open Enrollment begins. |
| December 7, 2026 | Deadline for the plan to receive an enrollment request under this annual window. |
| January 1, 2027 | Coverage changes made during the window take effect. |
These dates follow Medicare’s established annual enrollment schedule.
What can you change during Open Enrollment?
Depending on your current coverage and eligibility, you can:
- Switch between Medicare Advantage plans.
- Move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage.
- Leave Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare.
- Join, switch or drop a standalone Part D prescription drug plan if you have Original Medicare.
Before dropping drug coverage or changing how you receive Medicare, check how the decision affects your complete coverage arrangement.
1. Start with your current plan’s changes
Find your Annual Notice of Change, commonly called the ANOC. Medicare plans send this document each fall to explain changes in costs, coverage and other features taking effect in January. Contact your plan if you have not received it.
Create a short list of changes that could affect you personally. For example, a higher specialist copayment may matter more to someone receiving regular treatment than a change to an unused extra benefit.
Keep that list beside you when comparing alternatives. The useful comparison is between your current plan’s 2027 terms and other available 2027 options.
2. Confirm access to your doctors and hospitals
Original Medicare generally lets you use doctors and hospitals that accept Medicare nationwide. Medicare Advantage plans may require network providers for non-emergency care, and out-of-network coverage varies.
For each plan under consideration, check your primary care doctor, specialists, preferred hospital and other providers involved in ongoing care.
Ask about the exact plan, rather than whether an office accepts the insurer generally. Confirm participation with both the plan and the provider, and record the date of the conversation.
If you spend part of the year away from home, ask how routine care would work in that location.
3. Check every prescription and your preferred pharmacy
Each Part D plan has its own list of covered drugs, called a formulary.
Prepare a current medication list with each drug’s name, strength, quantity and refill frequency. Use it when comparing plans rather than relying on a general description of prescription benefits.
Check whether each medication has prior authorization, step therapy or quantity limits. A drug appearing on the formulary does not necessarily mean it can be filled without additional requirements.
Pharmacy choice also matters. Preferred in-network pharmacies may have lower cost-sharing than other pharmacies in the same network. Compare the pharmacies you can realistically use, including mail-order options where appropriate.
4. Compare the full annual cost
| Cost to review | What to compare for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Annual premiums | Add the premiums you would pay for the year, including Part B and any applicable Medicare Advantage, Part D or Medigap premiums. A $0 plan premium does not mean $0 total healthcare costs. |
| Medical and drug deductibles | Check these separately and identify which services or prescriptions are subject to each deductible. |
| Doctor and specialist visits | Compare copayments or coinsurance using the number of appointments you reasonably expect during the year. |
| Hospital and outpatient care | Review your share of costs for hospital stays, surgery, emergency care, imaging and other services you may need. |
| Prescription drugs | Compare estimated annual costs using your exact medications, doses and preferred pharmacies. Check coverage restrictions as well as prices. |
| Out-of-network care | Confirm whether planned care outside the network is covered and what you would pay. Include care needed while away from home. |
| Annual medical spending limit | For Medicare Advantage, check the applicable in-network and out-of-network limits for covered Part A and Part B services. Review prescription drug costs separately. |
| Supplemental coverage | If considering Original Medicare with Medigap, include the policy’s premium and check which out-of-pocket costs it covers. |
| Extra benefits and uncovered services | Review dental, vision and hearing allowances, exclusions and provider restrictions. Budget for services you expect to use that the plan will not pay for. |
Compare two scenarios: a year with your usual appointments and prescriptions, and a year with additional treatment or a hospital stay.
Estimate your annual total as premiums + expected out-of-pocket medical and drug costs + expected uncovered expenses. Count each expense once: do not add premiums or deductibles again if they are already included in an estimate.
A $0 Medicare Advantage plan premium does not mean all care is free. Beneficiaries generally remain responsible for the Part B premium, and other costs depend on the plan and services used.
Medicare Advantage plans have annual limits on spending for covered Part A and Part B services. Original Medicare does not have a comparable annual limit without supplemental or other coverage.
For each option, write down premiums, deductibles, likely medical copayments and estimated prescription costs. Review medical and drug spending limits separately.
Build two scenarios: your expected use of care and a year with more treatment. This will not predict your exact spending, but it can reveal whether a low-premium option exposes you to costs you would struggle to manage.
5. Read the rules behind the benefits
Medicare Advantage plan types differ in their provider, referral and drug-coverage arrangements. Certain services may also require prior authorization.
For any benefit important to you, ask what conditions apply. If dental coverage influences your decision, for example, check the covered procedures, participating dentists and benefit limits.
Use quality ratings alongside these practical checks. Our explainer on the 2027 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings provides background on interpreting the ratings.
A useful decision question is: can this plan support the care you expect to need, through providers you can access, at costs you can manage?
6. Check Medigap eligibility before leaving Medicare Advantage
Returning to Original Medicare does not automatically guarantee that you can buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy, also called Medigap.
The federal Medigap Open Enrollment period generally lasts six months, beginning when you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It does not repeat each fall. Outside that period, purchasing rights can depend on your circumstances and additional state protections.
Before making a switch, establish whether you can obtain the supplemental coverage you want, what it would cost and when it would begin. Also review whether you need a separate Part D plan.
7. Resolve questions about other coverage
If you have employer, retiree, union or other health coverage, speak with the benefits administrator before changing plans. Medicare specifically recommends checking how a new enrollment would affect existing coverage. Medicare’s enrollment guidance.
Do not assume that one household member’s best option will also suit another. Different doctors, medications and existing benefits can lead to different decisions.
How to compare plans and get help
Start with Medicare Plan Finder. Enter your location and prescription information, and make sure you are reviewing coverage for 2027.
You can enroll through Medicare.gov, contact the selected plan or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Keep the enrollment confirmation and verify the coverage start date.
For free personalized help, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. These programs help beneficiaries and families compare coverage, understand costs and make Medicare decisions. Find Medicare counseling and assistance.
Do not confuse the fall window with other enrollment periods
The January 1–March 31 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is a separate opportunity for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Qualifying life events can also create Special Enrollment Periods with different rules and effective dates. Medicare enrollment periods.
For the annual fall review, aim to resolve questions early enough to make an informed choice before December 7. Keep your medication list, provider confirmations, cost comparison and enrollment records together so they are available when 2027 coverage begins.
