Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Your Checklist Before 7 December

If you have Medicare, there is a short window each autumn when you can review your coverage and make changes for the next year. For 2027 coverage, that window is Medicare Open Enrollment, from 15 October to 7 December 2026. Changes you make in that window generally start on 1 January 2027.

You do not have to change anything. But even if you stay with the same plan, its doctors, drugs, and costs can change from year to year. That is why a short, calm review before the deadline is worth doing — and why waiting until the last day is risky.

Quick answer

• Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage: 15 October to 7 December 2026.
• Your plan must receive your request by 7 December 2026.
• Changes take effect 1 January 2027.
• During this window you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan, and you can move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
• If you do nothing, you usually stay in your current plan, provided your plan is still offered for 2027 — but that does not mean your costs and coverage stay the same. Check your plan's Annual Notice of Change.

What you can change — and what this window is not

During Open Enrollment, you may:

• Join a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or leave a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.
• Join a Part D prescription drug plan, switch Part D plans, or drop a Part D plan.
• Move between Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and a Medicare Advantage plan.

This window is not the same as your first chance to sign up for Medicare when you turn 65, and it is not the only enrollment window that exists. If you are still working and covered by an employer plan, or if you missed your first enrollment window, different rules and deadlines may apply. Our separate guide to Medicare enrollment periods and penalties explains those windows in detail. Do not assume the 7 December deadline is the only date that matters for your situation.

The six checks, in order

1. Read your Annual Notice of Change

Your plan sends this notice each autumn. It lists what will change in 2027: premiums, deductibles, copayments, covered drugs, and covered doctors or pharmacies. Read it before you compare anything else. If you cannot find it, call your plan and ask for a copy, or log in to your plan's website.

2. Check your doctors and pharmacies

Ask: are the doctors you see, and the pharmacy you use, still in your plan's network for 2027? A plan that was convenient last year can become inconvenient if a doctor or pharmacy leaves the network.

3. Check your prescription drugs

List every drug you take regularly, including the dose. Then check whether each drug is still covered by your plan for 2027, and what you would pay for it. A drug that moves to a different cost tier can change your yearly cost even if the plan's name stays the same.

4. Add up the total yearly cost, not just the monthly premium

A low monthly premium can still mean a high yearly cost if deductibles and copayments are high, or if a drug you need is expensive under that plan. Compare the premium plus the costs you expect to pay during the year, as far as you can estimate them from your current medicines and care. Do not choose a plan on the premium alone.

5. Check whether you qualify for extra help

If your income and resources are limited, you may qualify for help with Medicare costs through a Medicare Savings Program or through Extra Help for Part D drug costs. Our guide to Medicare costs explains those programs in general terms, and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can help you check. Do not assume you do not qualify without checking — eligibility rules are set by states and programs, and they change.

6. Get free, independent help before you decide

You can get free, unbiased counselling from SHIP in your state, and you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for official information. Be careful with sales calls and advertisements that present one plan as the best for everyone. A plan that is right for one person may be wrong for another.

A hypothetical example — not a real person

Imagine a reader, whom we will call Joan, who takes two regular medicines and sees the same doctor every few months. Her plan's name has not changed, so she is tempted to do nothing. When she checks her Annual Notice of Change, she finds that one of her medicines has moved to a higher cost tier for 2027. Her premium is almost the same, but her yearly drug cost would rise. Because she checked before 7 December, she still has time to compare other plans on Medicare Plan Finder and to ask SHIP for help. If she had waited until January, that window would have closed.

This example is hypothetical. It does not predict what any real reader's costs will be.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until 7 December and then finding that a website, phone line, or plan office is busy.
• Choosing by premium alone, without checking drugs, doctors, and total yearly cost.
• Trusting an advertisement or a cold call that claims one plan is best for everyone.
• Assuming that doing nothing means nothing changes. Your plan's costs and coverage can change even if you stay.
• Giving personal or Medicare information to a caller who pressures you to decide immediately. Hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE or your plan directly, using a number you find yourself.

Checklist: before 7 December

☐ I have read my Annual Notice of Change.

☐ I have checked that my doctors and pharmacy are still in network for 2027.

☐ I have checked that my regular medicines are still covered, and at what cost.

☐ I have compared total yearly cost, not just the monthly premium.

☐ I have checked whether I might qualify for a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help.

☐ I have asked SHIP or 1-800-MEDICARE for help if anything is unclear.

☐ I have made my decision and confirmed that my plan received it by 7 December 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to change my plan during Open Enrollment?

No. You may keep your current plan, provided it is still offered for 2027. But you should still check the Annual Notice of Change, because your plan's costs and coverage may change even if you stay.

What happens if I miss 7 December?

In general, you cannot make Open Enrollment changes after the deadline, and your coverage for 2027 will follow what was in place. Some people qualify for a special enrollment period for other reasons, such as moving or losing other coverage. If you think that may apply to you, call 1-800-MEDICARE promptly and ask.

Can I change my Medigap (supplement) policy during Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment as described here is about Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Medigap rules are different. Ask SHIP or your state insurance department before assuming you can switch Medigap coverage at any time.

Official resources

• Medicare: Joining a plan — https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan
• Medicare Plan Finder — https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare
• Talk to someone about Medicare (including SHIP) — https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone
• 1-800-MEDICARE: 1-800-633-4227

Conclusion

Open Enrollment is your annual chance to check, not a requirement to change. Read your plan notice, check your doctors and drugs, compare total yearly cost, and ask for free help if anything is unclear. Do it before 7 December 2026, while you still have time to act on what you find.

This article is general education only. It is not personal financial, insurance, or healthcare advice. For decisions about your own coverage, contact Medicare, SHIP, or your plan directly.

Financial Disclaimer