Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7): a step-by-step checklist

What Open Enrollment is

Medicare's Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. It's the main time people already on Medicare can change how they get their coverage for the next year. Any change you make takes effect on January 1. For 2027 coverage, the window is October 15 to December 7, 2026.

If you're happy with your coverage and it isn't changing much, you don't have to do anything; most plans renew automatically. But plans change their premiums, deductibles, drug lists and networks every year, so it's worth a check even if you liked your plan this year.

What you can change

During Open Enrollment you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.
• Join, drop or switch a Medicare drug plan (Part D).

Step 1: Read your Annual Notice of Change

If you're in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan must send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall. It lists what's changing next year: the premium, deductible, copays, which drugs are covered and at what tier, and whether your doctors and pharmacies are still in network. Plans send it by September 30. Read it first; it tells you whether you need to shop.

Step 2: Make a list of your drugs and doctors

Write down every prescription with its dose and how often you take it, plus your doctors, specialists, hospitals and pharmacy. The single biggest reason people end up paying more than they expected is a drug that moved to a higher tier or a doctor who left the network.

Step 3: Compare plans on Medicare.gov

Medicare's Plan Finder on Medicare.gov lets you enter your drugs and pharmacy and see estimated yearly costs for each plan in your area, not just the premium. Sort by total estimated cost. Check each plan's star rating, too; Medicare rates plans from 1 to 5 stars on quality and service.

Remember the 2027 drug numbers when you compare: no Part D plan can have a deductible above $700 in 2027, and once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,400, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.

Step 4: Get free, unbiased help

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with trained counselors who help people compare plans for free. They don't sell insurance. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day except some federal holidays.

Watch out for pressure and scams

Medicare won't call you to sell you a plan, and it won't ask for your Medicare number out of the blue. Be wary of TV ads and callers promising extra benefits "you're entitled to." Never give your Medicare number to someone who contacts you first. If you work with an agent, ask which companies they represent, since many agents only sell some plans.

If you miss December 7

If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, there's a second chance: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, from January 1 to March 31, lets you switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan or go back to Original Medicare once. Some life events, like moving or losing other coverage, also give you a Special Enrollment Period. People with Extra Help or Medicaid may be able to change drug coverage once a month.