Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 (Annual Enrollment Period): Dates and Your Options

When Is Medicare Open Enrollment?

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. For the 2027 plan year:

• Opens: Wednesday, October 15, 2026
• Ends: Monday, December 7, 2026
• Changes take effect: Friday, January 1, 2027

Your plan has to receive your enrollment request by December 7. If you make more than one change during the window, the last one you make before the deadline is the one that counts.

Who Can Use Medicare Open Enrollment?

Anyone who already has Medicare can use open enrollment. That includes people with:

• Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), with or without a standalone Part D drug plan
• A Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), with or without drug coverage
• A standalone Part D prescription drug plan

If you’re signing up for Medicare for the first time, you’ll usually use your Initial Enrollment Period instead. We’ll discuss IEP in more detail momentarily.

What Can You Change During Medicare Open Enrollment?

During open enrollment, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, with or without drug coverage
• Join a Part D prescription drug plan
• Switch from one Part D plan to another
• Drop your Part D coverage entirely

Every change takes effect January 1, 2027. Keep in mind that dropping drug coverage without other creditable coverage can lead to a late enrollment penalty if you sign up for Part D later.

What’s New for 2027 Plans

Plans change their costs and coverage every year, so even a plan that worked well in 2026 deserves a fresh look. A few changes for 2027 apply broadly:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is rising. The annual cap on what you pay for covered Part D drugs goes from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027.₂ After you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
• A temporary premium program is ending. CMS is ending the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration after 2026.₃ That program helped hold down premiums for standalone drug plans, and without it, premiums for 2027 may change more than usual depending on your plan and where you live.
• Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is worth reading.₄ If you’re in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan must send you an Annual Notice of Change by September 30. It lists changes to premiums, deductibles, copays, the drug formulary, and provider networks for next year.
• Part B premium and deductible for 2027: CMS usually announces these in late October or early November.

We would also like to thank Alex Sieler, who is serves as President and Insurance Advisor at Precise Insurance Advisors, for taking time to discuss the ins and outs of Medicare Open Enrollment for 2026 during our Speaker Series.

How to Review Your Plan Before December 7

A yearly review is about more than the premium. Look at the whole picture₅:

• Your drugs. Check that each prescription is still on the formulary and see which tier it falls in.
• Your doctors and pharmacies. Networks change. Real-world changes happen too. For example, when Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas exited the Medicare Advantage market, local members had to find new coverage.
• Your total costs. Add up premiums, deductibles, copays, and the out-of-pocket maximum, not just the monthly premium.
• Your income. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more for Part B and Part D through the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Open enrollment doesn’t change that, but it’s worth understanding how it works.

You can compare plans with the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).₆

Other Medicare Enrollment Periods

Open enrollment is the best-known window, but it’s one of several Medicare enrollment periods.₇

Initial Enrollment Period

For most people, the Initial Enrollment Period is the first chance to sign up for Medicare. It’s a seven-month window that starts three months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends three months after it. There are five options of when you can enroll during the seven-month window.

• Three months prior to your 65th birthday (coverage begins three months after enrolling)
• The month of your 65th birthday (coverage begins one month after enrolling)
• One month following your 65th birthday (coverage begins two months after enrolling)
• Two months following your 65th birthday (coverage begins three months after enrolling)
• Three months following your 65th birthday (coverage begins three months after enrolling)

There are a few exceptions to accessing Medicare prior to the IEP.₈ Those exceptions include people who have:

• A qualifying disability and have received Social Security Disability benefits for at least two years
• End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
• Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

General Enrollment Period

If you missed your Initial Enrollment Period and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Part A and/or Part B from January 1 to March 31. Coverage starts the first of the month after you enroll, and late enrollment penalties may apply.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change between January 1 and March 31. You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare and join a standalone Part D plan. This window isn’t available to people with Original Medicare.

Special Enrollment Periods

Certain life events let you change coverage outside the usual windows. Examples include moving out of your plan’s service area, losing employer or union coverage, qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing home. Timing and allowed changes depend on the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Open Enrollment

Q: Do you have to enroll in Medicare every year?

No. Your Medicare coverage renews automatically each year, and you don’t have to re-enroll. But plans can change their premiums, drug lists, and networks every year, so reviewing your coverage during open enrollment is a good habit.

Q: Can you change Medicare plans after open enrollment?

Only in certain cases. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31). Otherwise, you’d need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, for example because you moved or lost other coverage.

Q: What happens if you miss the open enrollment deadline?

If you don’t make changes by December 7, you’ll generally stay in your current plan for 2027, as long as it’s still offered. Your remaining options are the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify. For questions about your situation, call 1-800-MEDICARE or talk with our team.

Q: I’m turning 65 soon. What do I need to do to enroll in Medicare?

If you’re approaching 65, your first step is your Initial Enrollment Period, not open enrollment. Signing up during that seven-month window helps you avoid gaps in coverage and lifetime late enrollment penalties for Part B and Part D. If you or your spouse are still working and have employer coverage, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. The rules depend on the size of the employer and the type of coverage, so it’s worth confirming before you decide.

Medicare is one piece of your retirement income plan. Premiums, IRMAA surcharges, and out-of-pocket costs all affect how far your savings go. Along with reviewing your 2026 Medicare Open Enrollment options, take some time to review our Retirement Plan Checklist. It includes several retirement planning considerations, including planning for health care costs in retirement.