Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Dates, Changes and Plan Checklist

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 runs from Thursday, October 15 through Monday, December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect on January 1, 2027. This guide covers what you can and cannot change in that window, the 2027 Part D numbers, a plan-comparison checklist, and the mistakes that cost people money every year. Updated October 2026.

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: the quick answer

If you only need the dates and the basics, start with this table. The rest of the guide explains how to use the window well.

Item	2026 to 2027 detail
Open Enrollment window	Thursday, October 15 to Monday, December 7, 2026
When changes take effect	January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period	January 1 to March 31, 2027 (for people already in an Advantage plan)
Part D out-of-pocket cap, 2027	$2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026)
Part D maximum standard deductible, 2027	$700 (up from $615 in 2026); some plans charge less or none
Average Medicare Advantage choices, 2027	35 plans per beneficiary, 28 of them with drug coverage (KFF)
Stand-alone Part D plans, 2027	8 to 12 per beneficiary depending on state (KFF)
Official comparison tool	Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

The 2027 figures come from KFF’s October 2026 open enrollment brief, which draws on CMS data. Plan premiums and costs differ by county, so treat any national figure as a starting point, not your answer.

What you can change during Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is the one time each year when nearly everyone with Medicare can rework their coverage without needing a special reason. Here is what is on the table.

• Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage. You can leave Parts A and B as your main coverage and join a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan instead.
• Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare. You can drop an Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. If you do, you will usually want to add a stand-alone Part D plan at the same time.
• One Advantage plan to another. You can switch plans, including from a plan without drug coverage to one with it.
• Part D changes. You can join a drug plan for the first time, switch to a different one, or drop drug coverage entirely.

Your last valid choice before December 7 is the one that counts. If you enroll in a new Advantage or Part D plan, you are generally disenrolled from your old one automatically when the new plan starts, so you do not need to cancel separately. Confirm that with the new plan when you join.

What Open Enrollment does not cover

Two things trip people up here. First, this is not the window for signing up for Medicare for the first time. New enrollees use their Initial Enrollment Period, which, as USA.gov explains, starts three months before the month you turn 65 and lasts seven months in total. Second, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies do not follow the October to December calendar at all. You can apply for Medigap any time of year, but outside certain protected situations an insurer in most states can review your health history and charge more or say no. That matters a great deal if you are thinking of leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, which we cover below.

What changes for 2027

Every fall, plans send an Annual Notice of Change to their members. It lists next year’s premium, deductible, copays, drug list (formulary) and provider network changes. Many people put it in a drawer. Read it first, because it tells you whether your current plan still works for you before you look at anything else.

Part D drug costs

The out-of-pocket cap that began under the Inflation Reduction Act keeps rising with drug spending. For 2027, KFF puts the cap at $2,400 and the standard deductible at $700. In practice that means once you have paid $2,400 out of pocket for covered drugs in 2027, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. If you take expensive brand-name drugs, you will likely hit that cap; the question becomes how quickly, and whether a plan’s premium is worth paying to get there more slowly.

Spreading out drug costs

The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, launched in January 2025, lets you opt in to pay your out-of-pocket drug costs in monthly installments instead of all at once at the pharmacy. It does not lower the total you owe; it changes the timing. It can help if a large fill early in the year would strain your budget. You opt in through your drug plan.

Medicare Advantage options

KFF counts an average of 35 Advantage plans available per beneficiary for 2027, 28 of which include drug coverage. More choice sounds good, but it is also why comparing matters. Two plans with the same $0 premium can have very different copays, networks and drug lists.

Step-by-step: how to compare plans in about an hour

You do not need a spreadsheet degree to do this well. Set aside an hour, gather your information, and follow these steps.

1. Make your drug list. Write down every prescription with its exact name, dose and how often you take it. Include anything you expect to start next year.
2. List your doctors and pharmacy. Include specialists, the hospital you prefer and the pharmacy you use. If you split time between two states, note both locations.
3. Read your Annual Notice of Change. Note the 2027 premium, deductible, and anything about your drugs or doctors.
4. Use the Medicare Plan Finder. On medicare.gov, enter your ZIP code and drug list. The tool estimates your total yearly cost, premium plus drug costs, for each plan. Sort by that estimated total, not by premium.
5. Check networks directly. For any Advantage plan on your shortlist, look up each doctor in the plan’s own directory, then call the doctor’s office and ask whether they will be in network for 2027. Directories are not always current.
6. Compare the maximum out-of-pocket. Every Advantage plan has a yearly limit on what you pay for covered medical services. A low premium with a high limit can cost far more in a bad health year.
7. Check the extras with care. Dental, vision and hearing benefits vary widely. Read the dollar limits, not just the headline.
8. Enroll and keep proof. Enroll through Plan Finder, by phone with 1-800-MEDICARE, or with the plan. Save the confirmation number and date.

A worked example (illustrative)

Imagine a retired couple in Ohio. One spouse takes two generic drugs; the other takes a brand-name inhaler. Their current drug plan’s premium is rising for 2027. In Plan Finder, the cheapest-premium plan looks attractive until they see that it places the inhaler on a higher tier with a larger copay. A plan with a slightly higher premium covers the inhaler at a lower cost, and the tool’s estimated total for the year comes out lower. They also discover that spouses do not need the same plan; each can pick the one that fits their own drugs. That last point is easy to miss and often saves money.

Part D and Medicare Advantage checklist

Print this and tick each box for every plan you are seriously considering.

Check	Part D (stand-alone)	Medicare Advantage
All my drugs are on the formulary	Yes / No	Yes / No
Drug restrictions (prior authorization, step therapy, quantity limits)	Note any	Note any
My pharmacy is preferred, not just in network	Yes / No	Yes / No
2027 monthly premium	$	$
Drug deductible (up to $700 in 2027)	$	$
Estimated total yearly drug cost	$	$
My doctors are in network for 2027	Not applicable	Confirmed by phone?
Medical maximum out-of-pocket	Not applicable	$
Referrals needed for specialists	Not applicable	Yes / No
Coverage when traveling outside my area	Pharmacy access	Emergency only, or wider?
Star rating	Note it	Note it

Common Open Enrollment mistakes and how to avoid them

1. Letting the plan roll over without looking

If you do nothing, most plans renew automatically. That is fine only if your plan’s 2027 terms still suit you. Premiums, drug lists and networks change every year, and KFF’s figure that 65% of beneficiaries did not compare options suggests plenty of people are paying more than they need to.

2. Choosing by premium alone

A $0 premium plan is not free if your drugs sit on an expensive tier or your specialist is out of network. Compare estimated total yearly cost.

3. Leaving Medicare Advantage without a Medigap plan

If you switch back to Original Medicare, you will face the standard deductibles and 20% coinsurance for many Part B services unless you have other coverage. In most states, Medigap insurers can use medical underwriting when you apply outside your guaranteed-issue situations. KFF notes that people who leave an Advantage plan within 12 months of first enrolling have a guaranteed right to buy Medigap, but many others do not. Apply for Medigap and get approved before you drop the Advantage plan, not after.

4. Trusting a TV ad or an unsolicited call

Plans and brokers advertise heavily from October through December. Medicare does not call you to sell plans. Never give your Medicare number to someone who calls you out of the blue.

5. Forgetting about Extra Help

Extra Help, also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, lowers drug premiums and costs for people with limited income and resources. Some people qualify automatically, including full-benefit Medicaid enrollees, Medicare Savings Program enrollees and SSI recipients. Others apply through Social Security or Medicaid. According to KFF, people with Extra Help can change drug coverage once a month, so they are not limited to the fall window.

6. Waiting until December 7

Phone lines and help centers get busier as the deadline nears. Aim to finish by the end of November so you have time to fix a problem.

What if you miss the December 7 deadline?

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get a second chance. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31, 2027. During it, you can switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. You can make one change in that window.

If you have Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, that January window does not apply to you. Outside the fall period, you generally need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, for example after moving out of your plan’s service area, losing other coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid. Check eligibility with Medicare or your SHIP before assuming you are locked in.

Where to get free, unbiased help

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program. The SHIP national site lets you pick your state and find local counselors who offer one-on-one help with Medicare. SHIP counselors do not sell insurance, which makes them a good second opinion if a broker has recommended a plan.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Licensed brokers can be useful too, but they are paid by the plans they sell and may not represent every plan in your area. Ask which carriers they work with.

A short reminder: this guide is general information, not medical, insurance or financial advice. Rules and costs change each year. Confirm details on medicare.gov or with a SHIP counselor, and talk to your doctor about any coverage questions tied to your treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage?

It runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes you make in that window take effect January 1, 2027.

Do I have to do anything during Open Enrollment?

No. If you take no action, most people’s current plans renew automatically. It is still worth reviewing your Annual Notice of Change, because costs, drug lists and networks can change from year to year.

Can I change my Medigap policy during Open Enrollment?

Medigap is not tied to the fall window. You can apply any time, but outside guaranteed-issue situations insurers in most states can review your health and may charge more or decline you.

What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?

KFF reports that the 2027 cap is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of that year.

Can my spouse and I choose different plans?

Yes. Medicare coverage is individual. Each spouse can choose the plan that best fits their own doctors and prescriptions.

What if I change my mind after enrolling?

You can make another change before December 7; the last choice you make counts. After that, people in Medicare Advantage can use the January 1 to March 31 window to make one more change.

Your plan for this week

Pull out your Annual Notice of Change, write your drug list, and book an hour on your calendar before Thanksgiving. Run your drugs through Plan Finder, confirm your doctors by phone, and if anything feels unclear, call your SHIP for a free review. An hour of comparison now can shape what you pay for the whole of 2027.