Medicare · Guide
Medicare Open Enrollment: dates, what you can change and how to compare plans
Last updated 2026-10-24 · Reviewed against official sources · Editorial standards
Key takeaways
- Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. This year it runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026, for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2027.
- The plan must get your request by Dec. 7. Changes start on Jan. 1.
- If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you get one more change from Jan. 1 to March 31.
- The General Enrollment Period, also Jan. 1 to March 31, is for signing up for Part A or Part B. It is not for changing plans.
- If you want to keep your current coverage, you generally do not need to sign up again.
Key dates
| Period | Dates | What you can do | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Enrollment | Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 | Join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan or drug plan, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage | Jan. 1 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan. 1 to March 31 | If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan: switch plans once, or go back to Original Medicare and add a drug plan | The month after the plan gets your request |
| General Enrollment Period | Jan. 1 to March 31 | Sign up for Part A or Part B if you missed your first window (a penalty may apply) | The month after you sign up |
What you can change during Open Enrollment
From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, you can do any of these:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
- Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
- Join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage Plans, with or without drug coverage.
- Join, drop or switch a Medicare drug plan if you have Original Medicare.
To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you need both Part A and Part B. To join a drug plan, you need Part A or Part B. You must also live in the plan's service area. Open Enrollment is not the time to sign up for Part A or Part B for the first time.
How to compare plans for 2027
Plans can change their costs and benefits each year, so check yours. Medicare's Plan Finder on its website shows premiums, costs and benefits side by side. Add all the drugs you take for the best cost estimate. Ask your doctors and pharmacies if they are in the plan's network. You can join a plan in Plan Finder, by calling the plan, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
CMS projects that the average Medicare Advantage premium will fall from $14.37 a month in 2026 to $12.00 in 2027. It projects that the average stand-alone drug plan premium will rise from $35.09 to $36. Your own plan's cost may differ.
Changes outside Open Enrollment
Special Enrollment Periods let you change plans after some life events. Examples are moving, losing other coverage, or getting Medicaid or Extra Help. People with Medicaid or Extra Help may be able to change drug coverage once a month.
Avoid sales tricks and scams
Plans and agents may not call or text you unless you gave them permission or are already a member. They may not offer cash, gifts worth more than $15 or free meals to get you to join. Medicare will not call out of the blue to ask for your Medicare or bank numbers. If a call seems real, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself. For free advice from a counselor with no plan to sell, contact your state's SHIP.
Frequently asked questions
When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage?
From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026. Changes you make in that time start on Jan. 1, 2027.
Can I change Medicare Advantage Plans after Dec. 7?
If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can make one change from Jan. 1 to March 31. You can switch plans or go back to Original Medicare and add a drug plan.
Do I have to sign up again every year?
No. If you want to keep your current coverage, you generally do not need to sign up again. Still check your plan's changes for the new year.
What if I missed Part B when I turned 65?
Use the General Enrollment Period, from Jan. 1 to March 31. Coverage starts the month after you sign up, and a late penalty may apply.
Sources
- Medicare.gov, Joining a plan: Who can join a plan, Open Enrollment, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, SHIP help and 3 ways to join. Read 2026-10-24.
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027 (press release): Open Enrollment from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026, projected 2027 plan premiums and Plan Finder. Read 2026-10-24.
- eCFR, 42 CFR 422.62, Election of coverage under an MA plan: Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year, and one change in the first 3 months of the year. Read 2026-10-24.
- Medicare.gov, When does Medicare coverage start?: The 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, start dates, the General Enrollment Period and Special Enrollment Periods. Read 2026-10-24.
- eCFR, 42 CFR 407.15, General enrollment period: January through March of each year. Read 2026-10-24.
- Medicare.gov, Help with drug costs (Extra Help): Who gets Extra Help, the 2026 limits and what people pay in 2027. Read 2026-10-24.
- Medicare.gov, Marketing rules for Medicare health and drug plans: What plans, agents and brokers may not do when they sell plans. Read 2026-10-24.
- Federal Trade Commission, Avoid scams during Medicare's Open Enrollment Period: Medicare will not call out of the blue to ask for your numbers, and caller ID can be faked. Read 2026-10-24.
- Social Security Administration, Medicare (Publication No. 05-10043, 2026): Who can get Medicare, the enrollment periods, the employer Special Enrollment Period with forms CMS-40B and CMS-L564, and phone hours. Read 2026-10-24.