Medicare open enrollment is your annual window to audit your current Medicare coverage and make changes for the upcoming plan year. This period is for people who are already enrolled in Medicare.
Because plan costs, drug formularies and doctor networks can change each year, doing nothing during Medicare open enrollment can cost you. Whether or not you’re satisfied with your current coverage, blocking off a day this fall to browse available plans in your area costs nothing — and it could save you hundreds.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to shopping around and locking in your coverage for next year by the Dec. 7 deadline.
When is Medicare open enrollment?
Medicare open enrollment happens every fall, and changes you make during this time take effect the following year on Jan. 1. Here are important dates to pay attention to:
Mark your calendar
Oct. 15, 2026First day of Medicare open enrollment.
Dec. 7, 2026Last day of Medicare open enrollment.
Jan. 1, 2027New Medicare coverage begins.
What can you do during Medicare open enrollment?
Here's what you can do during Medicare open enrollment:
With Medicare Advantage:
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Change from a Medicare Advantage plan without drug coverage to a plan with drug coverage, or vice versa.
- Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.
With Original Medicare:
- Enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
- Switch from one Medicare Part D plan to another.
- Quit your Medicare Part D plan (but watch out for late enrollment penalties if you go back later).
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
Can I sign up for Medicare during open enrollment?
No, you can’t sign up for Medicare for the first time during Medicare open enrollment. This period applies to people already enrolled in Medicare.
If you're new to Medicare, you can sign up during your initial enrollment period. It generally starts three months before your 65th birthday month and ends three months after. If you missed that window, you might be able to sign up during a special enrollment period or during the general enrollment period (Jan. 1 to March 31).
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Your Medicare open enrollment checklist
If you’re currently enrolled in Medicare, here’s how to prepare for open enrollment:
1. Review your ANOC
Your plan will send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in the mail in September before open enrollment starts. This document outlines any changes to coverage and cost being made to your Medicare plan for the upcoming year.
Pay special attention to changes in your monthly premium, deductible and maximum out-of-pocket costs, as these factors have a big influence on your overall medical costs. You’ll also want to review changes to your copays and coinsurance, paying special attention to charges for services you’re likely to need next year.
If you have Medicare Advantage, your ANOC might outline changes to supplemental benefits like dental, hearing and vision coverage or gym memberships. While these extras shouldn’t be weighed as heavily as medical coverage and cost, it’s helpful to know if perks you’ve relied on are set to change next year.
2. Check to see if your drugs are covered
If you have prescription drug coverage, your ANOC will also highlight changes to your plan’s drug coverage. It lists drugs that have been added or removed as well as those that have been moved to a different formulary tier.
It can be tedious to wade through pages of drug changes, and they may not account for new medications you’ve just started. Instead of relying on your ANOC, look up your plan’s formulary, or drug list, for the upcoming year. Make sure any medications you take or plan to take are covered at an out-of-pocket cost you can afford.
If you have a preferred pharmacy, you may also want to check it’s still in network with your plan.
3. Make sure your providers are in network
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your ANOC may note general or widespread changes to your provider network, but it won’t list every doctor that’s in network. However, you should receive information on how to access your plan’s provider directory online for the upcoming year.
Check that to make sure your primary doctors, specialists and hospitals are still in network with your plan. Otherwise, you might not be covered, or you might have to pay more to see those providers.
4. Compare your plan options during open enrollment
Browse plans in your area to make sure your current Medicare coverage is still the best fit.
When to switch: If your primary doctor drops out of network or a crucial medication is removed from your plan’s drug list, you should shop around for a plan that covers your needs. But even if your doctors and drugs remain covered, it’s worth comparing plans to see if you can get the same coverage at a cheaper price — especially if your premiums or out-of-pocket costs are set to increase significantly.
To give you a sense of what to look for, here are some average cost benchmarks according to NerdWallet analysis of CMS data, weighted by enrollment:
- Medicare Advantage premium: $0 for most plans. Plans with a premium charge an average of $49.28 per month in 2027.
- Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket cost (in-network): $6,505, on average, in 2027.
- Medicare Part D premium: $51.20 per month, on average, in 2027.
You can compare plans using the Medicare plan finder tool on Medicare.gov or speak with a licensed broker or agent. If you decide to change Medicare plans, make sure to do so by the Dec. 7 deadline.
Nerdy Perspective
What if I just want to keep my current coverage?
Doing nothing means your plan automatically renews, and that can be a gamble. Because Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can change every year, a plan that worked well this year might not be your best choice for next year. This is especially true if your medical needs have changed.If your grocery store suddenly jacked up its prices, you’d check other stores nearby to see if you’re still getting a good deal. Your Medicare coverage deserves the same checkup, and you don’t even have to leave your house to do it. It takes minutes to plug your details into a plan comparison tool and make sure you’re still getting the best coverage for your money.
Can I drop my Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare?
Yes, you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare during Medicare open enrollment. But you should think twice before doing so.
If you go back to Original Medicare during open enrollment, you might not be able to purchase a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan. Because you’re outside of your Medicare Supplement open enrollment period, insurance companies can charge you higher rates or deny you based on your health status.
We generally don’t recommend having Original Medicare without a Medigap plan because Original Medicare lacks a maximum out-of-pocket limit. Your medical bills can become unmanageable if you end up needing a lot of care.
If you do decide to switch back to Original Medicare, you’ll have to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to get drug coverage. If you skip adding Part D coverage, you could face permanent late enrollment penalties later on.
What if my current Medicare plan is discontinued?
If your current plan is discontinued, you might need to take action.
- If your Medicare Advantage plan ends, you’ll be enrolled in Original Medicare unless you pick another Medicare Advantage plan. If you switch to Original Medicare, you’re temporarily granted guaranteed issue rights to a Medigap plan, meaning insurance companies can’t charge you more or deny you based on your health.
- If your Medicare Part D plan ends, you’ll lose prescription drug coverage unless you sign up for another plan. (If you have Extra Help, you’ll be automatically enrolled in a new plan unless you choose one yourself.)
If your plan has been discontinued, you’ll likely qualify for a special enrollment period that may go beyond the Dec. 7 deadline for Medicare open enrollment. If your provider sends a notice that your plan is being discontinued, read the notice to make sure you understand your options.
» Shopping for prescription drug coverage? See our picks for the best Medicare Part D plans
Shopping for Medicare Advantage plans? We have you covered.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE is an alternative to traditional Medicare offered by private health insurers. Compare options from our Medicare Advantage roundup. | |
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Medicare Advantage plan availability varies by location. Select a state on the map below to see NerdWallet's picks for the best Medicare Advantage plans available in that state.
For additional guidance, you can reach out to your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
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- 1.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Open Enrollment. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Joining a plan. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- 3.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. When does Medicare coverage start?. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- 4.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. CY2027 Landscape 202609.1. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
