Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Your Checklist

What You Can Change During Open Enrollment

Medicare's fall open enrollment — often called the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP — runs October 15 through December 7 every year. During it you can:

Join, drop or switch a Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage. Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare. Join, drop or switch a Medicare Part D drug plan if you have Original Medicare.

Changes take effect January 1, 2027, as long as the plan receives your request by December 7. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies are not part of open enrollment — they follow their own rules; see when you can switch a Medigap plan and the Medicare Supplement guide.

Your Open Enrollment Checklist

Work through these before you decide — most take a few minutes, and together they keep a plan change from costing you more next year.

1. Read your plan's Annual Notice of Change

   If you're in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change in September. It lists what changes on January 1 — premiums, deductibles, copays, the drug list and the network. If it didn't arrive, call your plan.

2. Write down your doctors, pharmacies and prescriptions

   List each doctor and hospital you want to keep, the pharmacies you use, and every prescription with its dose. You’ll check each one against any plan you consider — networks and drug lists change every year.

3. Check what your drugs will cost in 2027

   The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100; once you reach it you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs that year (you still pay your plan premium). The standard deductible can be as high as $700. Compare a plan's total yearly cost — premium plus what you'll pay for your drugs — not the premium alone. Read what's changing in Medicare for 2027.

4. Compare plans once next year’s details are out

   Information on 2027 plans becomes available on Medicare.gov beginning in October. Check each plan’s network, drug list, premium, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for your ZIP code. A licensed AMAC advisor can run the comparison with you at no cost.

5. Factor in the Part B premium

   You pay the Part B premium on top of most plans. It is $202.90 a month in 2026; the Medicare Trustees project about $209.50 for 2027, and CMS announces the official amount later in the fall. Higher earners pay more — see what IRMAA is — and the premium is usually deducted from Social Security, so it also affects how much of the 2027 COLA you keep.

6. Tune out the pressure

   Expect a flood of TV ads, mailers and calls this fall. Medicare never calls to sell you anything, and never calls uninvited asking for personal information. Share your Medicare number only with people you trust who work with Medicare — your doctors, your insurer or plan, or a licensed agent you’ve contacted to help you enroll. Read how to avoid open enrollment scams and what to make of the ads.

7. Enroll by December 7

   Your new plan must receive your enrollment by December 7 for coverage to start January 1, 2027. Joining a new plan generally ends your old one automatically — but if you're in a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage and join a stand-alone drug plan, you'll be returned to Original Medicare for your health coverage. If your current plan still fits, you generally don't need to do anything — you stay enrolled.

8. Keep your confirmation — and know your second chance

   Save the confirmation and watch for your new plan's welcome packet and card. If you join a Medicare Advantage plan and change your mind, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) lets you switch once to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. See which changes you can make, and when.

Key Dates for 2027 Coverage

New to Medicare? Your enrollment windows depend on your birthday — use the Medicare enrollment dates calculator.

Missed Open Enrollment?

If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance from January 1 – March 31. Outside those windows, certain life events — such as moving out of your plan's service area or losing other coverage — can open a Special Enrollment Period. Read what to do if you missed the Annual Enrollment Period.

Late for Part B itself? That’s a different clock, and a late signup can add a penalty for as long as you have Part B — see the Part B late-enrollment penalty calculator.