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What Can You Change During Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct 15–Dec 7)?

Last verified against 11 official sources

Short answer: During Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, you can switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan, join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan, and, if you have Original Medicare, join, switch, or drop a Part D drug plan. The plan must get your request by December 7, and your new coverage starts January 1, 2027. If you're happy with your coverage, you don't have to do anything, because it continues automatically. Medigap follows separate rules, and if you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan you get one more chance to make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.

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  • Dropping drug coverage can cost you later. If you go 63 days or more in a row without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable drug coverage, you may owe a Part D late enrollment penalty, generally for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.
  • If you drop a Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may not be able to get it back later.
  • Expect a lot of mail and ads during Open Enrollment. Medicare.gov, the "Medicare & You" handbook, and 1-800-MEDICARE are Medicare's official sources of unbiased Medicare information.

Step by step

  1. Read your plan's Annual Notice of Change. Your plan sends this notice by September 30. It lists changes to costs, benefits, and networks that start January 1, 2027. These changes apply to you even if you don't switch plans.
  2. List your drugs, pharmacies, and doctors. Write down each prescription and dose, the pharmacies you use, and the doctors you want to keep. You'll use this list to compare plans on the same terms.
  3. Compare plans in Medicare Plan Finder. Go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare plans side by side, see estimates of your total out-of-pocket costs, check quality ratings, and see if your doctors and pharmacies are in the network. Plans don't need your personal information to give you a quote.
  4. Check the Medigap rules before you move. If you have a Medigap policy and are thinking about a Medicare Advantage Plan, or you want to leave one for Original Medicare, look at your Medigap options first. You may not be able to get the same Medigap policy back later, and outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period a policy may cost more or not be available.
  5. Get free help if you're unsure. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free, personalized counseling and isn't connected to any insurance company. Find yours at shiphelp.org, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays.
  6. Make any change by December 7. You can make a change with the Enroll button in Medicare Plan Finder, through 1-800-MEDICARE, or directly with the plan. The plan must get your request by December 7, 2026, and the new coverage starts January 1, 2027. If you're happy with what you have, you don't need to do anything.

What you can change, and when it takes effect

From October 15 to December 7, 2026, you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare. You can also join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage, and join, switch, or drop a stand-alone Medicare drug plan (Part D) if you have Original Medicare. Changes take effect January 1, 2027, as long as the plan gets your request by December 7.

From January 1 to March 31, 2027, there is a second window, but only for people already in a Medicare Advantage Plan. You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan, or drop your plan, go back to Original Medicare, and join a separate drug plan. You can make only one change, and it starts the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

In the January to March window you can't switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, join a drug plan if you have Original Medicare, or switch from one stand-alone drug plan to another. Outside these windows, you can change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, for example after a move, losing other coverage, or getting Medicaid or Extra Help.

The Medigap catch

Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) works only with Original Medicare. It can't pay Medicare Advantage premiums, deductibles, or copayments. It's illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy while you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless you're switching back to Original Medicare.

Most Medigap policies don't cancel on their own when you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, so you would contact the insurance company to cancel. If you drop Medigap to join a Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time, you get a single 12-month trial right period to return to Original Medicare and get your Medigap policy back if the same company still sells it. After that, you may not be able to get the same policy back, or in some cases any Medigap policy.

The changes Medicare lists for Open Enrollment cover Medicare Advantage and drug plans. Medigap has its own timing. The best time to buy is your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. After that, there's no federal guarantee a company will sell you a policy, and it may cost more because of past or present health problems. Some states give extra rights, so ask your SHIP or State Insurance Department.

What CMS has confirmed for 2027

Part D drug costs: in 2027, your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs are capped at $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once you reach the cap, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. If a plan has a drug deductible, it can be no more than $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026.

Premiums: CMS projects the average monthly Medicare Advantage premium will drop from $14.37 in 2026 to $12.00 in 2027, and the average stand-alone drug plan premium will rise from $35.09 to $36. These are national averages. Your own plan's premium can be different, which is why comparing plans matters.

Timing: CMS said Medicare Plan Finder would have 2027 plan information by October 1, 2026, and that 2027 plan star ratings would be on Medicare.gov on or around October 8, 2026.

Common questions

Do I have to do anything during Medicare Open Enrollment?

No. If you're happy with your current coverage, it continues automatically. But your plan's costs, benefits, and networks can change on January 1, so it's worth reading your Annual Notice of Change and comparing options before December 7.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare?

Yes. You can switch during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7), or from January 1 to March 31 if you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you want drug coverage, you would also join a stand-alone Part D plan. Check your Medigap options first, because depending on your situation and your state, a Medigap policy may cost more or may not be available.

Can I change my Medigap plan during Open Enrollment?

Medigap follows its own rules, separate from the October 15 to December 7 window. Outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, a company may charge more because of your health or may not sell you a policy, unless you have a special right under federal or state law. Your SHIP or State Insurance Department can tell you what applies where you live.

What if I miss the December 7 deadline?

If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can make one change from January 1 to March 31. Otherwise, you can change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, such as after moving or losing other coverage. If a plan with a 5-star overall rating is offered where you live, you can join it once between December 8 and November 30 of the plan year.

Where can I get free, unbiased help comparing Medicare plans?

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, personalized counseling for you and your family or caregiver. SHIPs get federal funding and aren't connected to any insurance company or health plan; find yours at shiphelp.org. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays.

Official sources

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