Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027, and your new plan has to receive your request by December 7. If you’re happy with your current plan and it’s continuing, you don’t have to do anything. It renews on its own.
That last sentence is exactly why so many people overpay, though. Plans change their drug lists, pharmacy networks and deductibles every year. Doing nothing is a choice, and in 2027 there are a few good reasons to make it a deliberate one.
I’m a researcher, not a licensed insurance agent, so I won’t tell you which plan to pick. What I can do is lay out the official rules, the 2027 numbers and the order I’d work through them in. For one-on-one help, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling.
The dates that matter
- October 1, 2026. Plans can start marketing 2027 coverage, and Medicare’s Plan Finder shows 2027 plans. Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change should have arrived in September.
- October 15. Open Enrollment begins.
- December 7. Last day. Your new plan must get your enrollment request by this date.
- January 1, 2027. New coverage starts. If you stayed put, your plan’s 2027 costs and benefits start too.
- January 1 to March 31, 2027. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. Only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare lists these periods on its Joining a plan page.
What you can change during Open Enrollment
According to Medicare.gov, between October 15 and December 7 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, with or without drug coverage.
- Join, drop or switch a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare.
- Add or drop drug coverage in a Medicare Advantage plan.
What Open Enrollment doesn’t cover: Medigap
This catches people every year. Open Enrollment isn’t a Medigap enrollment period. Under federal law you get one six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, starting the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. Medicare.gov explains that outside that window, an insurer can deny you a policy based on medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue right. Some states add protections, so check with your State Insurance Department.
So if you’re thinking of leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, find out whether you can get a Medigap policy at a price you can live with before you switch, not after.
If you get Extra Help or Medicaid
You aren’t limited to this window for drug coverage. Medicare says people with Medicaid or Extra Help may be able to change drug coverage once a month. If you think you might qualify for Extra Help, my guide on how to apply for Extra Help walks through the 2026 income limits and the 2027 copays.
The 2027 numbers worth knowing before you compare
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 (up from $2,100). After that you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
- Maximum Part D deductible: $700 (up from $615). Your plan can charge less or nothing.
- Average Medicare Advantage premium: projected by CMS to fall from $14.37 to $12.00 a month. Some plans are raising deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums at the same time, so don’t stop at the premium.
- Average stand-alone drug plan premium: projected to rise from $35.09 to $36 a month.
- 15 more drugs with negotiated prices, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Trelegy and Linzess, starting January 1, 2027.
- Part B premium for 2027: not announced yet as of October 1. It’s $202.90 a month in 2026.
The full list of changes, with sources, is in Medicare changes for 2027. For drug plans specifically, see Part D in 2027.
My order of operations
Here’s the sequence I’d follow, roughly one sitting per step.
Step 1: Read your Annual Notice of Change
Your current plan’s ANOC lists what changes on January 1. Look at the premium, deductibles, your drugs, your doctors and pharmacy, and the out-of-pocket maximum if you’re in Medicare Advantage. My ANOC guide goes line by line.
Step 2: Write down what you actually use
- Every prescription, with dose and how often you take it
- Your doctors, specialists and preferred hospital
- Your pharmacy, and whether you’d use mail order
- Any care you know is coming next year, like a surgery or physical therapy
Step 3: Run the numbers in Plan Finder
Enter your drugs and pharmacy into Medicare Plan Finder and sort by estimated total drug and premium cost, not by premium alone. My guide to finding the best plan in your area walks through the tool screen by screen.
Step 4: Check networks yourself
Plan Finder is good on drugs and less reliable on doctor networks. Call your doctors’ offices and ask, “Will you be in network with this plan in 2027?” Then confirm with the plan.
Step 5: Enroll early and keep proof
Enroll through Plan Finder, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or directly with the plan. Write down the confirmation number and date. Don’t wait until December 7. If something goes wrong with the application, you want time to fix it.
Mistakes I see most often
- Comparing premiums only. A $0-premium plan with a high deductible and a narrow network can cost far more over a year.
- Assuming your drugs are still covered. Formularies change every year.
- Switching to Medicare Advantage without checking your doctors. Networks matter more than extras like gym benefits.
- Leaving Medicare Advantage without a Medigap plan lined up. See the Medigap section above.
- Trusting a TV ad or a cold call. Medicare won’t call you to sell a plan. When in doubt, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE or your SHIP.
I’ve gathered more of these in Open Enrollment mistakes to avoid.
If you miss December 7
You may still have options. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, the January 1 to March 31 window lets you switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a drug plan. Life events like moving or losing other coverage can trigger a Special Enrollment Period. Medicare also has a special period that lets you switch into a plan with a 5-star quality rating.
FAQ
When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027?
October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Do I have to re-enroll every year?
No. If your plan is continuing, you’re renewed automatically. If your plan is leaving Medicare, it must notify you, and you’ll get a Special Enrollment Period to pick a new one.
Can I change Medigap plans during Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment doesn’t give you a right to buy or switch Medigap policies. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period, insurers can use medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue right or extra protections under your state’s law.
What happens if I change plans more than once during Open Enrollment?
The last change you make by December 7 is the one that counts.
Where can I get free help?
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free, unbiased counseling. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048.
