Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: What to Do Before December 7

When Is Open Enrollment?

Medicare Open Enrollment (also called the Annual Election Period) runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes you make during this window take effect on January 1 of the following year.

This is separate from the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31), which allows people enrolled in MA plans to switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

What You Can Change

During Open Enrollment, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare (and pick a standalone Part D plan)
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Join a Part D prescription drug plan
• Switch from one Part D plan to another
• Drop Part D coverage (though this may result in a late enrollment penalty later)

What's New for 2027 Coverage (Changes Made During Fall 2026 Open Enrollment)

While official 2027 plan details won't be finalized until CMS releases them in fall 2026, the following trends from recent years are worth watching:

A Step-by-Step Open Enrollment Checklist

1. Review your ANOC: Your plan mails this by September 30. It details any changes to premiums, copays, formulary, and network for the coming year.
2. List your medications: Write down every prescription, including dosage and frequency. This is essential for comparing Part D plans accurately.
3. Check your providers: If you're considering Medicare Advantage, verify that your doctors and hospitals are in the plan's network for the coming year.
4. Use the Medicare Plan Finder: At Medicare.gov/plan-compare, enter your medications and preferred pharmacies to see estimated total annual costs for each plan — not just premiums.
5. Call SHIP for free help: Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers unbiased counseling. Find yours at SHIPhelp.org.
6. Enroll by December 7: Don't wait until the last day — technical issues or questions can arise. Give yourself at least a week's buffer.

Common Open Enrollment Mistakes

• Doing nothing: Sticking with your current plan without reviewing changes. Your plan's costs and formulary may shift significantly year to year.
• Comparing premiums only: A plan with a lower premium may have higher copays, a narrower formulary, or fewer covered providers — resulting in higher total costs.
• Ignoring the formulary: If one of your medications moves to a higher tier or is dropped entirely, your costs could increase dramatically.
• Missing the deadline: If you don't act by December 7, you're locked into your current coverage until the next Open Enrollment.