Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, What You Can Change & Deadlines
Medicare open enrollment 2027 started October 15 and runs through December 7, 2026, and this year it really is worth opening that thick envelope from your plan. Part D costs go up, a temporary premium helper is ending, and some Medicare Advantage plans are shrinking their service areas. Whatever you choose by December 7 starts January 1, 2027.
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: Who, When, Why
The official name is the medicare annual enrollment period, though almost everyone calls it open enrollment. It is the one stretch each year when you can freely rethink your drug coverage or your Advantage plan without needing a special reason.
Medicare Open Enrollment Dates to Write Down
The medicare open enrollment dates are October 15 to December 7, every year. After December 7 your choices lock in for the year, apart from a few exceptions I will get to below.
What You Can Change This Fall
You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, move from Advantage to Original Medicare, or go the other direction and join Advantage from Original Medicare. You can also add, drop or swap a Part D drug plan. What you cannot count on is switching Medigap policies without health questions, which I cover in the FAQs.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period 2027
There is a second, smaller window that people mix up with this one. The medicare advantage open enrollment period 2027 runs January 1 to March 31 and is only for people already in an Advantage plan. You can switch to a different Advantage plan, or drop back to Original Medicare and pick a standalone drug plan, one time. It does not let you jump from Original Medicare into Advantage.
The Medicare Annual Notice of Change: Read It Even If You Are Happy
By the end of September your plan has to mail the medicare annual notice of change. It lists next year's premium, deductible, drug tiers and network changes. Honestly, the people who get burned each January are usually the ones who tossed it unopened. Five minutes with that document can save you a few hundred dollars, or at least tell you your pharmacy dropped out.
Medicare Part D Open Enrollment 2027: What Costs More
Medicare part D open enrollment 2027 matters more than usual. The yearly out-of-pocket cap on drugs rises from $2,100 to $2,400, and the standard deductible climbs from $615 to $700. A temporary federal program that helped hold down standalone Part D premiums ends this year, so premiums may jump on some plans. Meanwhile 15 more drugs, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, get Medicare-negotiated prices in 2027, which could help if you take one of them. Re-enter your full drug list in the plan finder instead of assuming last year's plan still fits.
When Your Medicare Advantage Plan Is Leaving Your
Area A letter saying your plan is pulling out of the county is stressful, but it is not the end of your coverage. Medicare advantage plan leaving my area 2027 is a real situation this year, with advocates reporting plans exiting some areas and trimming extras like dental. When a plan non-renews you typically get a special window (usually December 8 through the end of February) to choose a new one, and you can use regular open enrollment before December 7 as well. I would not wait until the old plan disappears on January 1.
Medicare Help for Seniors That Costs Nothing
Medicare help for seniors should not cost you a cent. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE, ask for your state's SHIP counselors (Texas calls its program HICAP), or work with an independent agent. We are paid by carriers, and your premium does not change because you used us. You can browse the Medicare plans we compare and then book a free consultation when you are ready.