Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period opens October 15, 2026, one week from today. For every person enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, that date marks the start of a 54-day window to review current coverage, compare 2027 options, and make changes that take effect January 1, 2027. The window closes December 7. After that, your plan renews automatically, and your next primary opportunity to make changes is October 2027.
Most people do not make changes during open enrollment. That is not always the wrong decision, but it needs to be a deliberate one. Medicare plans can change their premiums, remove drugs from their formularies, and adjust their provider networks every single year. What worked well in 2026 may not be the best fit for 2027. The only way to know is to review your options with your advisor.
This guide explains what the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is, what you can change, what is new for 2027, and what to do in the next seven days to prepare.
Key Facts: Medicare Open Enrollment 2026
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Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 through December 7, 2026
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All changes take effect January 1, 2027
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CMS projects 2027 Medicare Advantage enrollment at approximately 34 million, or 47.4 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries
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97 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have access to 10 or more Medicare Advantage plan choices in 2027
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The 2027 Part D base beneficiary premium is $41.33, per CMS’s July 28, 2026 announcement
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The coverage gap, previously known as the donut hole, was permanently eliminated for 2027 under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Part D benefit redesign, codified in CMS’s April 2026 final rule
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ACCESS, a new CMS chronic care model for Original Medicare beneficiaries, is now available; three out of four Medicare beneficiaries qualify for at least one track
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After December 7, limited changes may be available during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, 2027
What Is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, also called Medicare open enrollment, runs October 15 through December 7 every year per CMS. Every person with Medicare can use this window to review their health and drug coverage and make changes for the following year. Changes made during the Annual Enrollment Period take effect January 1, 2027.
This is the primary opportunity to adjust Medicare coverage. Missing the December 7 deadline means your current plan renews automatically. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which runs January 1 through March 31, allows more limited changes for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage but does not offer the full range of options available during the Annual Enrollment Period.
What Can You Change During Medicare Open Enrollment?
During the Annual Enrollment Period, you can make any of the following changes.
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans bundle Part A and Part B benefits and typically include Part D prescription drug coverage in a single plan offered by a private insurer approved by Medicare. Many plans include supplemental benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness programs not covered under Original Medicare.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare. If your current Medicare Advantage plan no longer fits your needs, you can return to Original Medicare during AEP and, if needed, add a standalone Part D plan. Note that Medigap eligibility and underwriting rules vary by state and may apply if you are returning to Original Medicare after age 65.
Switch between Medicare Advantage plans. If you want a different carrier, a different network, a lower premium, or better drug coverage, you can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another during this window.
Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. If you have Original Medicare and want to add or change prescription drug coverage, the Annual Enrollment Period is your primary opportunity to do so. Enrolling late in Part D after your initial eligibility window may result in a permanent late enrollment penalty.
Make no changes. If you reviewed your Annual Notice of Change and your current plan still meets your needs at an acceptable cost, you do not need to act. Your coverage renews automatically on January 1, 2027.
What Is New for 2027 Medicare That Makes This Year’s Review More Important?
Several changes taking effect in 2027 make careful plan review more valuable than in prior years.
Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped permanently. CMS codified the Inflation Reduction Act’s Part D benefit redesign in its April 2026 final rule, making the changes permanent for 2027 and beyond. The coverage gap phase has been eliminated. Enrollees in the catastrophic phase no longer face cost sharing. The tier structure and formulary of your specific 2027 plan will determine how quickly you reach the annual out-of-pocket cap. Review your drug coverage carefully in your Annual Notice of Change.
The 2027 Part D base beneficiary premium is $41.33. CMS confirmed this figure on July 28, 2026. Individual plan premiums vary by carrier and plan and are visible in the Medicare Plan Finder when open enrollment begins October 15.
ACCESS: a new chronic care model for Original Medicare beneficiaries. CMS launched ACCESS, short for Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions, a 10-year CMS Innovation Center model that began July 2026. The program provides technology-supported chronic care, including virtual visits, wearable devices, lifestyle coaching, and medication management, at low or no cost for people with Original Medicare who have qualifying chronic conditions. Current tracks cover cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions, musculoskeletal pain, and behavioral health. Beginning Spring 2027, ACCESS expands to add heart failure, COPD, substance use disorder, and tobacco cessation tracks. Three out of four Medicare beneficiaries qualify for at least one ACCESS track.
One significant caveat: Medicare Advantage enrollees cannot use ACCESS. Per CMS, the program is available exclusively to people with Original Medicare. For beneficiaries managing chronic conditions who are currently in or considering Medicare Advantage, this is a meaningful factor in the Original Medicare versus Medicare Advantage decision during this enrollment period.
Medicare Advantage plan availability is shifting. The total number of available Medicare Advantage plans nationally changes from 5,553 in 2026 to approximately 5,532 in 2027, per CMS’s October 2026 announcement. Specific plan availability, premiums, and supplemental benefits vary significantly by county. Your current plan’s terms for 2027 may differ from what you experienced in 2026, so make sure to review it with a licensed advisor.
What Should You Do to Prepare Before October 15?
Read your Annual Notice of Change now. Your plan was required to send it by September 30. It outlines every change to your plan’s premiums, drug formulary, provider network, and supplemental benefits taking effect January 1, 2027. This document is the starting point for every enrollment decision.
List your current medications and providers. When you compare plans starting October 15, you will need this information to confirm your drugs are covered at an acceptable tier and your doctors remain in-network. Preparing this list now means you are ready to use the Medicare Plan Finder the moment it opens.
Consider whether ACCESS matters to you. If you have a chronic condition and currently have or are considering Original Medicare, visit Medicare.gov/ACCESS to learn more about the program. If you are in Medicare Advantage, you cannot use ACCESS under current program rules.
Contact a licensed Medicare advisor at YourMedPlan. A licensed advisor from YourMedPlan can run a comparison of your current coverage against available 2027 alternatives, verify your specific medications are covered, and help you make a confident enrollment decision at no cost to you.
What Should You Look For When Reviewing 2027 Medicare Plan Options?
Premium changes. Your monthly plan premium may increase, decrease, or hold flat for 2027. Verify what your specific plan charges in 2027 before deciding to renew.
Formulary changes. Plans can add, remove, or change the cost tier of drugs each year. If a medication you take regularly is moving to a higher tier or being removed, your out-of-pocket drug costs could increase significantly even if your premium stays the same.
Provider and pharmacy network changes. Confirm that your primary care physician, specialists, and preferred pharmacy remain in-network for 2027. Always verify directly with your providers in addition to checking plan directories.
Supplemental benefits. Dental, vision, hearing, transportation, meal delivery, and over-the-counter allowances can change or be discontinued each year. If you rely on any supplemental benefit, confirm it continues for 2027.
Out-of-pocket maximum. Medicare Advantage plans include an annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for Parts A and B. This limit varies by plan. If your health needs increased in 2026, the out-of-pocket maximum in your 2027 plan options deserves close attention.
ACCESS eligibility. If you have Original Medicare and manage a chronic condition, verify whether you qualify for an ACCESS track. If you are in Medicare Advantage and managing a chronic condition, consider whether the ACCESS program is a reason to evaluate switching to Original Medicare during this enrollment period.
What Are Common Mistakes to Avoid During Medicare Open Enrollment?
Waiting until late November. The December 7 deadline arrives faster than it feels. Beneficiaries who start reviewing in October have time to compare carefully and ask questions before committing to a plan.
Assuming nothing changed. Plans change every year. Staying in your current plan without reading your Annual Notice of Change is a decision made without the information that is already available to you.
Focusing only on premium. A lower-premium plan that excludes your drugs or moves them to a higher tier can cost more in total than a plan with a higher monthly premium and better formulary coverage. Always evaluate total estimated annual cost, not just the monthly amount.
Not verifying providers independently. Call your doctor’s office directly to confirm they remain in-network for your plan in 2027. Plan directories can lag behind actual network status.
Missing the December 7 deadline. After December 7, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31 offers more limited options and does not allow you to switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage.
How Can a Licensed YourMedPlan Advisor Help You During Medicare Open Enrollment?
A licensed YourMedPlan Medicare advisor reviews your Annual Notice of Change alongside your medication list and provider preferences, compares available 2027 plans in your county, explains what ACCESS means for your situation, and helps you make a confident enrollment decision before December 7. This service costs you nothing.
YourMedPlan serves Medicare beneficiaries across Florida, South Carolina, and 43 states nationwide.
Call to speak with a licensed Medicare advisor before the December 7 deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions: Medicare Open Enrollment 2026
When does Medicare open enrollment start in 2026? The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. All changes made during this window take effect January 1, 2027.
Is Medicare open enrollment the same as AEP? Yes. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period and Medicare open enrollment refer to the same period, October 15 through December 7 each year. Some plans and advisors also call it the Fall Open Enrollment Period. All refer to the same 54-day window when any person with Medicare can review and change their coverage.
What can I change during Medicare open enrollment? During the Annual Enrollment Period, you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare, switch between Medicare Advantage plans, or join, switch, or drop a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
Do I have to do anything during Medicare open enrollment? No. If you reviewed your Annual Notice of Change and your current plan still meets your needs, you can do nothing and your plan renews automatically. Act only if a change in your plan creates a problem you want to address before January 1.
What is the new ACCESS program in 2027 Medicare? ACCESS stands for Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions. It is a 10-year CMS Innovation Center model that provides technology-supported chronic care, including virtual visits, wearable devices, and lifestyle coaching, at low or no cost for people with Original Medicare who have qualifying chronic conditions. Three out of four Medicare beneficiaries qualify for at least one ACCESS track. The program is not available to Medicare Advantage enrollees.
What changed in Medicare Part D for 2027? CMS codified the Inflation Reduction Act’s Part D benefit redesign in its April 2026 final rule. The coverage gap phase has been permanently eliminated. Enrollees in the catastrophic phase no longer face cost sharing. The 2027 base beneficiary premium is $41.33, per CMS’s July 28, 2026 announcement. Individual plan premiums vary by carrier and plan.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in 2027? Nationally, approximately 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans are available in 2027, per CMS’s October 2026 announcement. More than 99 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have access to at least one plan, and 97 percent have access to 10 or more plan choices. Availability varies significantly by county. Work with a licensed advisor from YourMedPlan to understand your options.
Can Medicare Advantage enrollees use ACCESS? No. Per CMS, the ACCESS chronic care program is available exclusively to people with Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage enrollees cannot participate. If you currently have Medicare Advantage and manage a qualifying chronic condition, this distinction may be worth factoring into your coverage decision during open enrollment.
What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline? Your current plan renews automatically for 2027. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31, 2027, allows people already in Medicare Advantage to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, but does not allow switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage.
Should I work with a Medicare advisor during open enrollment? A licensed Medicare advisor from YourMedPlan can compare your current coverage against available 2027 alternatives, verify your medications and providers are covered, and help you understand how new programs like ACCESS affect your decision, at no additional cost.
Do Not Wait Until December
Open enrollment runs 54 days. Medicare beneficiaries who review their options in October make better decisions than those who wait until the final weeks. 2027 plan data is visible at Medicare.gov starting October 15.
Call to speak with a licensed YourMedPlan Medicare advisor before the December 7 deadline.
Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent multiple organizations that offer a variety of products in your area. For information on all available options, please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
This blog post provides general educational information about the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period and does not constitute enrollment advice for any specific individual. Medicare plan availability, costs, benefits, and network details vary by plan and location and are subject to change annually. ACCESS program availability, qualifying conditions, and track details are subject to CMS guidelines; visit Medicare.gov/ACCESS for current program information. Data referenced reflects CMS sources current as of October 8, 2026. Please review your plan’s Annual Notice of Change and consult a licensed Medicare advisor before making enrollment decisions.
SandStone Partners Health, LLC dba YourMedPlan is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. This is an advertisement for insurance. Not all carriers or plans are available in every state or region. Plan availability, benefits, and costs may vary by location.
