Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 Starts October 15: What U.S. Beneficiaries Should Review First

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026.
Review your Annual Notice of Change, prescriptions, doctors, pharmacies, plan networks, premiums, and out-of-pocket costs before choosing coverage.
You can compare plans through Medicare.gov, enroll directly with a plan, or get free help from 1-800-MEDICARE and local Medicare counselors.

What is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027?

Medicare Open Enrollment, officially called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During this window, people with Medicare can change their Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for the 2027 plan year.

You may be able to join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan, join or change a Medicare drug plan, or switch between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare. Any change made during this period generally takes effect on January 1, 2027, as long as the plan receives your enrollment request by December 7.

This enrollment period applies to Medicare in the United States. It isn’t the same as provincial health coverage enrollment in Canada, and Canadian residents shouldn’t use Medicare.gov to manage provincial benefits.

When should you start reviewing your options?

Medicare plan information for the next year becomes available beginning in October. Medicare’s 2026 handbook advises beneficiaries to start comparing options on October 1, 2026, before the formal enrollment period opens.

That early review matters because your current plan may change its premium, deductible, copayments, covered services, drug formulary, provider network, pharmacy network, or extra benefits for 2027. A plan that worked well this year may not be the best fit next year.

If you’re satisfied with your current plan and it will continue in your area, you may not need to make a change. Still, reviewing the updates can help you avoid surprises.

Who can use the 2027 Medicare enrollment period?

The October 15–December 7 period is for people already enrolled in Medicare who want to review or change their Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for the following year.

Your available choices depend on your current coverage:

Medicare Advantage: You can usually join another Medicare Advantage plan, switch to Original Medicare, or change your Medicare Advantage and drug coverage combination.
Original Medicare: You can join or change a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. You may also review Medicare Advantage plans if you have both Part A and Part B.
Medigap: Medicare Open Enrollment isn’t a general annual enrollment period for Medigap. Switching or buying a Medigap policy can depend on medical underwriting, state rules, guaranteed-issue rights, and your individual circumstances.

If you have employer, union, retiree, Medicaid, or other coverage, check how a change could affect those benefits before enrolling in a new plan.

What should you check before choosing a plan?

1. Your Annual Notice of Change

Your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan should send an Annual Notice of Change, often called an ANOC. It explains important changes that take effect in January, including premiums, deductibles, copayments, covered benefits, drug coverage, and provider or pharmacy networks.

Compare the ANOC with your actual health-care needs rather than looking only at the monthly premium. A plan with a low premium can still cost more overall if your prescriptions move to a higher tier or your preferred pharmacy leaves the network.

2. Prescription drugs and pharmacies

Enter every prescription you take when comparing plans. Check the drug name, dosage, quantity, coverage restrictions, formulary tier, deductible, copayment, coinsurance, and preferred pharmacies.

Also check whether a plan requires prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits. These rules can affect what you pay and how quickly a prescription is approved.

3. Doctors, hospitals, and specialists

Medicare Advantage plans typically use provider networks. Confirm that your primary-care doctor, specialists, hospital system, laboratories, and other regularly used providers will be in network for 2027.

Original Medicare generally lets you use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, although supplemental coverage and prescription coverage involve separate decisions and costs.

4. Total yearly cost

Look beyond the monthly premium. Compare the deductible, copayments, coinsurance, drug costs, out-of-pocket maximum, and estimated yearly spending based on your medications and expected care.

Medicare.gov’s plan comparison tool can estimate costs using your prescriptions and preferred pharmacies. Results can vary by ZIP code, plan availability, pharmacy, and the information entered.

5. Benefits and restrictions

Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, transportation, fitness, or over-the-counter allowances. Check the detailed rules before treating an extra benefit as a guaranteed value. Some benefits have provider limits, dollar caps, approval requirements, or restricted service areas.

How to compare and enroll in Medicare coverage

Start with your ZIP code, current plan information, prescription list, preferred pharmacies, and the names of your doctors and hospitals.

Compare Medicare plans on the official plan comparison tool

Review your plan notices. Read the Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage from your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
Gather your information. Make a list of prescriptions, dosages, doctors, pharmacies, expected procedures, and any benefits you use regularly.
Compare available plans. Use Medicare.gov’s plan comparison tool and enter your prescriptions and pharmacies for a more useful cost estimate.
Check the details. Confirm the plan’s network, formulary, premiums, deductibles, copayments, out-of-pocket limit, prior-authorization rules, and coverage area.
Enroll by December 7. You can select the plan’s enrollment option through Medicare.gov, visit the plan’s official website, call the plan, or request a paper enrollment form. The plan must receive a paper form by the deadline.
Save your confirmation. Keep the confirmation number, submission date, plan name, and any follow-up messages.

Medicare.gov may direct you to the plan’s website or contact information when you select an enrollment option. The exact enrollment method can differ by plan.

What happens after you submit a change?

If your enrollment request is accepted by the December 7 deadline, your new coverage generally starts January 1, 2027. Watch for confirmation from the plan and review your new membership materials when they arrive.

Before January, make sure your doctors, prescriptions, pharmacies, and preferred services are still covered under the new plan. If something doesn’t match what you expected, contact the plan first and keep written records of the response.

People enrolled in Medicare Advantage also have another opportunity from January 1 through March 31, 2027. During that Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, they can generally make one change to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. This later period has different rules and is not a substitute for the October 15–December 7 enrollment period.

Common mistakes and warning signs

Choosing based only on a $0 premium: Check the total cost of care, drug costs, network rules, and out-of-pocket maximum.
Skipping the prescription check: A plan can cover your medication but place it at a different tier or require prior authorization.
Assuming your doctor is still covered: Provider directories can change, so confirm with both the plan and the provider’s office.
Waiting until December 7: Give yourself time to compare plans and fix data-entry or enrollment problems.
Trusting unsolicited callers: Don’t give your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank details, or payment information to an unexpected caller. Use Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.

Your safest next step is to collect your ANOC, prescription list, doctor information, and ZIP code, then compare 2027 options through the official Medicare plan tool when the new plan information becomes available.

Helpful Links

Medicare Open Enrollment information – Review the official enrollment dates, plan-change rules, and guidance for checking Annual Notices of Change.
Medicare plan comparison tool – Compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans using your ZIP code, prescriptions, and pharmacies.
Your Yearly Medicare Review – Use this official guide to review plan costs, providers, prescriptions, and enrollment steps.
Medicare publications – Access the official Medicare & You handbook and other Medicare publications.
Medicare coverage choices – Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage before changing coverage.
Helpful tools – Official page referenced in the article.
Contact Medicare – Official page referenced in the article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Medicare Open Enrollment the same as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

A. No. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year and lets eligible beneficiaries make changes for the next calendar year. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 and is generally available only to people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

Q. Can I change from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during Open Enrollment?

A. Yes. During the October 15–December 7 period, you can generally switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare. If you also want prescription coverage, you can join a separate Part D plan. Check how the change could affect Medigap eligibility before dropping Medicare Advantage.

Q. Do I have to change plans every year?

A. No. If your current plan remains available and its 2027 coverage still meets your needs, you can usually stay enrolled. You should still read the Annual Notice of Change and confirm your prescriptions, providers, pharmacies, costs, and benefits.

Q. What if I miss the December 7 deadline?

A. You may need to wait for another enrollment period unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or another exception. If you’re already in Medicare Advantage, the January 1–March 31 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period may provide a limited opportunity to make one change.

Q. Where can I get free help comparing Medicare plans?

A. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227 or use your state’s Health Insurance Assistance Program, commonly known as SHIP. These resources can explain Medicare choices without requiring you to buy a plan. Get Medicare help and find local SHIP assistance Contact Medicare