Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Changes and What to Do Now
Updated
Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026. Here's what's changing for 2027, what you can switch, and how to compare plans for free.
Medicare's annual open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Any change you make starts January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, most plans renew automatically, but 2027 brings enough changes that it pays to check.
Key facts at a glance
| Open enrollment | Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026 |
| New coverage starts | Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Part D deductible (max) | $700 in 2027, up from $615 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 |
| Average Medicare Advantage premium | About $12 a month, down from $14.37 |
| Average stand-alone drug plan premium | About $36 a month, up from $35.09 |
What you can change during open enrollment
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or back again
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Join, switch or drop a Part D drug plan
What you usually can't change
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) is not part of open enrollment. In most states, an insurer can still ask health questions and turn you down if you apply for Medigap outside your one-time six-month window at 65. A few states, including New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, give broader access. Ask before you drop a Medigap policy.
The biggest 2027 changes
Drug costs go up. The maximum Part D deductible rises to $700, and the yearly cap on what you pay for covered drugs rises to $2,400. Fifteen more drugs, including Ozempic and Trelegy, also get Medicare-negotiated prices starting in January.
Some Medicare Advantage plans are going away. KFF counts 193 counties with no general Medicare Advantage drug plans for 2027, up from 123, affecting about 638,000 people. Humana is dropping plans covering about 600,000 members, and Molina and Clear Spring have left the Medicare Advantage drug-plan market. Most people still have plenty of choices: the average beneficiary can pick from about 28 plans.
Star ratings shifted. The average plan rating dipped to 3.99 out of 5, and 71% of enrollees are in plans rated 4 stars or higher.
If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending
You should have received a letter. You can pick a new plan during open enrollment, and you get extra time after Dec. 7 through the end of February. If you don't choose, you'll go back to Original Medicare and will need a separate Part D plan. Going 63 days or more without drug coverage can trigger a lifelong late penalty, so don't let it lapse.
Losing your plan also gives you a protected window to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions, from 60 days before to 63 days after your coverage ends.
How to compare plans (free)
- Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your plan mailed it by Sept. 30. It lists what changes for 2027.
- Use the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. Enter your drugs and pharmacy to see real yearly costs.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE. It's open 24 hours a day.
- Get free one-on-one help from SHIP, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. In Florida it's called SHINE.
What to do this week
- Find your ANOC letter and check your drugs, doctors and pharmacy.
- Make a list of every prescription and dose.
- Compare at least two other plans before Dec. 7.
Sources: CMS, KFF, CMS star ratings, AARP, Kiplinger, Money Talks News, NerdWallet.