Medicare's Annual Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, and whatever you change during that window takes effect January 1. Insurers are already narrowing networks and trimming benefits on some plans for 2027, ahead of the window opening.
The six weeks before Open Enrollment opens are the easiest time to get ready. Once the window is open, your mailbox and inbox fill up with plan ads, and it gets a lot harder to tell your own numbers apart from someone else's marketing.
Decision
Where do you stand on your current plan?
Whichever path you're on, the first step below is the same.
Since you're likely keeping my plan, start with the gathering checklist below. It's the same first step either way.
Gather These Before the Mail Starts Arriving
A useful comparison starts with your own numbers, not a plan's advertised ones. Before you look at a single new option, write down what you actually use and what you actually paid this year.
Keep this list somewhere you'll actually find it again in October. A phone note or a printed page both work.
Read Your Plan's Annual Notice of Change Closely
Your current plan sends an Annual Notice of Change, usually by the end of September, spelling out exactly what's different for 2027: premium, deductible, which drugs are covered and at what cost, and whether your network is changing. Most people file it without reading it.
Read it against the list you just built. That's what turns a dense mailing into three or four concrete answers.
If you're already leaning toward switching, take one more step before you commit to a new plan.
If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Advantage Insurer Exit: What to Check covers what to do if your plan is leaving your area entirely.
ToolKnow what to ask before you call Medicare or Social Security.
Build my listClose tool
Prepare short, specific Medicare or Social Security questions before your next call.
Checklist
Pull these together first
This is the list every later comparison depends on.
0 of 3 done.
Checklist
Check these against your own list
Three numbers and two yes-or-no questions tell you most of what you need.
0 of 3 done.
Timeline
Work it in this order
Check off each step as you finish it.
Compare it against your gathered list before the enrollment window opens.
Use your comparison to confirm your current plan or start switching.
Any change must reach your plan by this date to take effect January 1.
Save your outlook, your checks, and your timeline here.
Know Your Deadline and Your Options
Open Enrollment is the one window where you can freely join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, without needing a special reason. Miss it, and you may be waiting until next year unless a specific qualifying event opens a Special Enrollment Period for you.
Working the calendar backward from December 7 keeps the deadline from sneaking up on you.
If you already missed a past deadline, Medicare Special Enrollment Periods: Do You Qualify for One Right Now? covers the exceptions. If rising drug plan premiums are your main concern, Medicare Part D Premiums Are Rising for 2027 walks through that separately.
Common questions
When is Medicare Open Enrollment 2027?
Medicare's Annual Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7. Any change you make during that window, whether it's switching plans, adding drug coverage, or moving between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, takes effect January 1.
What should I gather before Medicare Open Enrollment starts?
List every prescription you take with dosage, every doctor and facility you use regularly, and what you actually paid out of pocket in 2026, including premiums, deductibles, and copays. That list is what makes comparing your current plan against your Annual Notice of Change, or against a new plan, actually useful.
What is an Annual Notice of Change?
It's a notice your current Medicare plan sends, usually by the end of September, explaining exactly what's changing for 2027: premium, deductible, drug coverage tiers, and network. Reading it against your own list of prescriptions and providers is the fastest way to spot a real change before it affects you.
What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline?
If you miss Open Enrollment without a qualifying life event, you generally have to wait until the next year's window to make most changes. Certain situations, like moving or losing other coverage, can open a Special Enrollment Period outside the normal calendar, so it's worth checking whether one applies to you.
