Medicare Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7
Your yearly chance to change Medicare Advantage and drug plans.
Every year from October 15 to December 7, anyone with Medicare can change how they get their health and drug coverage for the following year. Changes take effect January 1. It's also called the Annual Election Period or Annual Enrollment Period.
Plans can change their premiums, deductibles, drug lists and networks every January, so a plan that suited you this year may not next year.
What you can do
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, switch or drop a Part D drug plan.
What it doesn't do
Open Enrollment isn't a guaranteed time to buy a Medigap policy. In most states, if you leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, a Medigap insurer can still ask health questions. A few states have their own rules; check your state page. It also isn't when you first sign up for Parts A and B.
A review checklist
- Read your Annual Notice of Change, which plans send by September 30.
- Check that every drug you take is still on the formulary, on what tier, and with what restrictions.
- Check that your doctors, hospitals and pharmacies are still in network.
- Compare total yearly cost (premium plus expected drug and medical costs), not just the premium.
- Look at next year's out-of-pocket limit and star rating.
- Enter your drugs in the Medicare Plan Finder to compare every plan in your area.
What's changing for 2027
Part D's out-of-pocket cap rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum deductible from $615 to $700. The in-network out-of-pocket limit for Medicare Advantage plans rises to $9,850. The 2027 Part B premium and deductible haven't been announced yet.
Common questions
In most cases your current plan renews automatically for next year, with its new costs and rules. If your plan is leaving Medicare, you'll get a notice explaining your options.
Yes. The last change you make by December 7 is the one that takes effect January 1.
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change from January 1 to March 31. Special Enrollment Periods also apply in certain situations.
Want help with your own choices?
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with trained counselors who give free, unbiased Medicare help and do not sell plans. Find yours on our Medicare by state pages, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Planning the rest of your coverage in retirement? We can help with life insurance later in life and final expense coverage.
Sources
- Joining a health or drug plan, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
- Costs for Medicare drug coverage, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
- CY 2027 Rate Announcement, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Checked September 29, 2026.
- Final CY 2027 Part C Bid Review Memorandum, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Checked September 29, 2026.
General information about the federal Medicare program, not advice about your situation. Figures are for 2026 unless stated and change every year; last reviewed September 29, 2026. Quote My Policy is a private company. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
Quote My Policy does not sell Medicare plans on this site. For plan-specific help, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.