Every fall, a thick envelope shows up in millions of mailboxes, gets set on the kitchen counter, and quietly stays there until December. We get it. Medicare paperwork is nobody’s idea of a fun weekend. But Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, is the one stretch of the year when you can fix a plan that isn’t working for you. Miss it, and in most cases you’re locked into next year’s version of your plan, whatever it now costs.
This guide walks you through the whole thing in plain English: what you can change, what’s different for 2027, the mistakes we see people make over and over, and a simple one-hour checklist you can do at the kitchen table. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or helping a parent, you’ll leave knowing exactly what to do next.
What Medicare Open Enrollment actually is
Medicare Open Enrollment (you’ll also hear it called the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP) is a fixed window every year when anyone with Medicare can change how they get their coverage. Any change you make takes effect on January 1, 2027.
During the window you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan
- Pick a plan with a different network, different drug list, or different extra benefits like dental and vision
Here’s the part people miss: if you do nothing, your current plan renews automatically. That sounds convenient, and sometimes it’s fine. But plans change their premiums, copays, drug lists and doctor networks every single year. Auto-renewal means you accept all of those changes without looking.
What’s changing for 2027
A few numbers are worth knowing before you start comparing plans.
Part B premium: still a projection
The standard Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 a month. The Medicare Trustees projected a 2027 premium of about $209.50, a roughly 3% increase, according to Kiplinger’s breakdown of the trustees report. That’s only a projection. CMS usually announces the official number in the fall, and past projections have been off by more than ten dollars. We’ll update this guide when the real figure is out.
Your Social Security raise and Medicare are connected
The 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is scheduled to be announced on October 14, the day before Open Enrollment opens. If your Part B premium comes straight out of your Social Security check, as it does for most retirees, part of that raise goes to the higher premium before you ever see it. Keep that in mind when you budget for next year.
Part D drug costs have a yearly cap
Since 2025, Part D plans have had an annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs. For 2027, reporting puts that cap at $2,400, with a maximum standard deductible of $700. For anyone on expensive brand-name medications, that cap is the single most important protection in Medicare. It’s also a reason not to panic if a plan’s premium looks high: what you actually pay over a year can be very different from the monthly sticker price.
Medicare Advantage plans are shifting
Insurers adjust Medicare Advantage plans every year, and in some counties plans are leaving entirely or trimming extras. If your plan is ending, you’ll get a non-renewal letter, and you’ll have a special window to pick a new one. Don’t ignore that letter.
Step one: open the “Annual Notice of Change”
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your insurer had to send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by September 30. It’s usually a booklet with a plain cover, and it’s the most useful document you’ll get all year.
Flip to the summary table near the front. You’re looking for four things:
- Monthly premium: is it going up?
- Deductible: for medical care and for drugs
- Your drugs: are they still covered, and did any move to a more expensive tier?
- Your doctors and pharmacy: are they still in network?
If all four look fine, you may be done. If even one changed in a way that hurts, it’s worth an hour of comparison shopping.
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: the honest version
This is the biggest decision in Medicare, and the ads on TV make it sound simpler than it is. Here’s how we’d explain it to a friend.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B), usually with a Medigap plan and Part D
- Pros: You can see any doctor or hospital in the country that takes Medicare. No referrals needed. With a good Medigap (supplement) plan, your out-of-pocket costs are very predictable.
- Cons: You pay three separate premiums (Part B, Medigap, Part D). No built-in dental, vision or hearing coverage. Medigap can be expensive.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- Pros: Often a low or $0 premium on top of Part B. Usually includes drug coverage plus extras like dental, vision, hearing aids, or a gym membership. Has a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for medical care.
- Cons: Networks. Many plans are HMOs that require you to use their doctors and get referrals. Prior authorization can slow down care. And if you get seriously sick, the copays add up until you hit the maximum.
The catch nobody mentions on TV: if you leave Original Medicare for Medicare Advantage and later want to come back, you might not be able to buy a Medigap plan at a fair price. In most states, Medigap insurers can check your health and charge more, or turn you down, after your first enrollment window. A few states (like New York and Connecticut) have stronger protections. If you’re healthy now and considering Advantage, know that it can be a hard move to undo.
How to compare plans in about an hour
The official tool is the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov. It’s free, it isn’t selling you anything, and it’s honestly pretty good once you know how to use it.
- Gather your list. Write down every prescription with its exact dose and how often you take it. Add your doctors, your preferred pharmacy, and any specialists you see.
- Log in or continue as a guest. Logging in lets it pull your current drugs automatically, but guest mode works fine.
- Enter your drugs and pharmacy. This is where the magic happens: the tool calculates your estimated total yearly cost, not just the premium.
- Sort by “lowest drug + premium cost.” This is the number that matters. A $0-premium plan that charges $90 a month for your inhaler isn’t a deal.
- Check star ratings. Plans are rated 1 to 5 stars. We’d treat anything below 3.5 stars with caution.
- Call your doctors. The network listings aren’t always current. Call the office and ask, “Are you in network with [plan name] for 2027?” Use those words, because “Do you take Humana?” isn’t specific enough.
Seven mistakes we see every single year
1. Picking a plan by the premium alone
The premium is just one piece. Deductibles, copays and drug costs often matter more. Always compare estimated total yearly cost.
2. Assuming your drugs will be covered next year
Drug lists (formularies) change every January. A medication that cost $10 this year might cost $47 next year or need prior authorization. Check every drug, every year.
3. Trusting the TV commercial
Those ads with the 1-800 numbers usually connect you to a broker paid by insurers. Some are excellent. But they may not represent every plan in your area. If you want free, unbiased help, contact your state’s SHIP office (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Their counselors are trained, local and don’t earn commissions.
4. Forgetting about travel
If you spend winters in Florida or visit grandkids out of state, many HMO-style Advantage plans only cover emergencies outside your area. Snowbirds should look hard at PPO plans or Original Medicare.
5. Ignoring the “Extra Help” program
If your income is limited, the federal Extra Help program can cut your Part D premiums and copays dramatically. Lots of people who qualify never apply. You can check eligibility through Social Security.
6. Missing the deadline
December 7 is firm. If you’re helping a parent, put it on your phone calendar now, with a reminder on December 1.
7. Falling for scam calls
Medicare will never call you out of the blue to “update your card” or ask for your Medicare number. Scammers know Open Enrollment is when people expect calls. Hang up, and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself if you’re not sure.
Helping a parent with Medicare? Read this
A lot of people reading this aren’t on Medicare themselves. They’re the adult kid who’s suddenly in charge of Mom’s paperwork. A few things make it much smoother:
- Sit together, don’t take over. Bring a laptop, a printout of their drug list, and coffee. Let them make the final call.
- Get permission on file. Medicare and the plans won’t talk to you about your parent unless they’ve authorized it. Ask them to call 1-800-MEDICARE and name you, or fill out the authorization form, so you can call on their behalf later.
- Bring the pill bottles. People forget doses. The bottles don’t.
- Keep a one-page summary. Plan name, member ID, customer service number, primary doctor, pharmacy. Tape it inside a kitchen cabinet. You’ll be glad you did.
What if you miss the December 7 deadline?
All is not lost, but your options shrink.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31): If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to a different Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare (and add Part D).
- Special Enrollment Periods: Certain life events, like moving, losing other coverage, or qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help, open a special window.
- 5-star plans: If a 5-star plan is available where you live, you can switch into it once during the year.
Still, it’s much easier to just do it before December 7.
Your one-hour Open Enrollment checklist
- ☐ Find and read your Annual Notice of Change
- ☐ Write down every drug, dose and pharmacy
- ☐ List your doctors and specialists
- ☐ Run Medicare Plan Finder and sort by total yearly cost
- ☐ Call your doctors to confirm 2027 network status
- ☐ Check if you qualify for Extra Help
- ☐ Make your change (or consciously decide to stay)
- ☐ Save the confirmation number
- ☐ Watch for your new card and welcome kit in December
Medicare Open Enrollment FAQ
Do I have to do anything during Open Enrollment?
No. If you’re happy with your coverage, it renews automatically. But “happy” should mean you actually checked your Annual Notice of Change, not just that you haven’t looked. Plans change their costs and drug lists every year, so a ten-minute review is always worth it.
Can I change my Medigap plan during Open Enrollment?
Not in the same way. Open Enrollment covers Medicare Advantage and Part D. Medigap (supplement) plans follow different rules. You can apply to switch Medigap plans any time, but in most states the insurer can ask health questions and charge more or decline you. A handful of states have annual “birthday rules” or other protections that make switching easier, so check your state’s rules or ask your SHIP counselor.
What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving my area?
You’ll get a non-renewal notice. You can pick a new Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, and you get special rights to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions in that situation. If you do nothing, you’ll generally be moved to Original Medicare, which may leave you without drug coverage, so act on that letter.
Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental care, eyeglasses or hearing aids. Many Medicare Advantage plans include some coverage for these, but the details vary a lot. A “dental benefit” might only mean two cleanings a year, or it could include a real allowance for fillings and crowns. Read the plan’s benefit summary carefully if these matter to you.
I’m still working. Do I need to worry about this?
If you’re 65 or older and have coverage through your own or your spouse’s current job, the rules depend on the employer’s size and how your coverage coordinates with Medicare. Talk to your HR department and Social Security before you turn down any part of Medicare. Delaying the wrong part can trigger lifelong late-enrollment penalties.
How do I know if a plan is a good one?
Look at three things together: the estimated total yearly cost for your actual drugs and care, whether your doctors and pharmacy are in network, and the plan’s star rating. A plan that scores well on all three is a strong candidate. If you’re torn between two, a free SHIP counselor can walk you through the differences.
Is there a cost to get help choosing a plan?
No. Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE and your state SHIP program are all free. Licensed insurance brokers also don’t charge you directly (they’re paid by insurers), but it’s fair to ask a broker how many companies they represent in your area.
The bottom line
Medicare Open Enrollment isn’t about finding the “perfect” plan. It’s about making sure the plan you have still fits your doctors, your prescriptions and your budget in 2027. For most people, that’s an hour of work that can save hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars. So go find that envelope on the counter. You’ve got until December 7.
This article is general information, not personal insurance advice. For free one-on-one help, contact your state SHIP office or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Figures for 2027 that weren’t final at publication are labeled as projections.
