Medicare Open Enrollment Deadline: 53 Days Left to Change Your Plan as Insurers Cut Plans and Raise Costs for 2027

Medicare Open Enrollment Deadline: The Medicare open enrollment deadline is Monday, December 7, and the clock started today. With 53 days left, millions of people face a decision they did not ask for: insurers are trimming Medicare Advantage offerings across the country, and a plan that worked in 2026 may cost more or vanish in January. Becker’s Payer Issues counted 498 fewer county-level plan offerings from Health Care Service Corp., 344 fewer from Centene and 193 fewer from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, while Molina is leaving the traditional Medicare Advantage market entirely. Insurers expect Medicare Advantage enrollment to slip by about 2 million to roughly 34 million, and it may fall below half of all Medicare beneficiaries for the first time since 2023. Whatever you choose must be locked in by December 7 to start on January 1, 2027. We’ll be updating this article monthly as new rules and figures arrive.

This is not a routine year for plan shoppers. The average cap on yearly medical out-of-pocket spending is climbing about 10 percent, and the average Part D deductible is up roughly 30 percent, according to an analysis of the 2027 plan data. CMS says the average Medicare Advantage premium will fall to $12.00, but analysts note that figure is pulled down by special needs plans and understates increases for many standard plans. Star Ratings released last week also reshuffled the winners and losers. Below you will find what you can change, who is leaving, how to switch, what happens if you miss the cutoff, the Medigap trap that catches people moving to Original Medicare, a free cost comparison calculator, and the official links.

Medicare Open Enrollment Deadline Countdown

What You Can and Cannot Change Before the Deadline

Open enrollment is flexible, but it has limits. This table shows what the seven-week window allows.

If you are happy with your current plan, you do not need to act, and you will stay enrolled for 2027. The risk is assuming nothing changed. Premiums, deductibles, copays, networks and drug lists reset each year, and your annual notice of change is the only place that spells out your plan’s version.

Medicare Advantage Plan Exits 2027: Which Insurers Are Pulling Back

Every major insurer trimmed something for 2027. Becker’s Payer Issues compared plan offerings by county for individual Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage drug plans, excluding special needs plans.

Healthcare Dive reported a separate county-exit tally from analysts at Stephens: Centene leaving 344 counties, CVS 103, UnitedHealthcare 63 and Elevance 56, with Devoted Health adding 336 counties and Humana adding 39. Johns Hopkins researchers found nearly 3 million seniors had to find new Medicare Advantage coverage in 2026, and this year’s changes could push that number high again. CMS counters that about eight in ten Medicare Advantage members can keep their current plan at the same or a lower premium.

If your plan is leaving, you will receive a non-renewal notice by mail. That letter matters for two reasons. First, it tells you your options before the deadline. Second, it opens a Special Enrollment Period, which helps if you want to move to Original Medicare and buy a Medigap policy, as explained below.

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2027 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings: Winners, Losers and What They Mean

CMS released the 2027 Star Ratings on October 8, and the news was not great overall. The average rating slipped from 4.01 to 3.99. Among plans with drug coverage, about 37 percent now hold four stars or higher, down from 44 percent a year ago, and the number of five-star contracts dropped from 22 to 15. CMS used up to 43 measures, with new measures, reweighted measures and higher thresholds.

Star Ratings are useful but not decisive. They summarize quality and member experience, and plans with high ratings receive bonus payments that can fund extra benefits. A rating tells you how a contract performed across a region, not whether your doctor accepts the plan. Use it as a tiebreaker after you confirm your providers and drugs are covered.

Rising Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs for 2027

The cost story matters more than the average premium. Healthcare Dive’s analysis of CMS data found the average maximum out-of-pocket limit climbing about 10 percent and the average Part D deductible rising about 30 percent. The details vary by company.

A survey of health plan leaders by HealthScape found nearly 70 percent expect richer benefits to shrink in 2027. That squares with what shoppers should look for: smaller dental and vision allowances, tighter networks, and more prior authorization. The federal rules that shape your drug costs are the same for everyone, including a Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,400 and a maximum standard deductible of $700. Where plans differ is the deductible they charge and how they set copays before you hit the cap.

Medicare Part B Premium 2027: Where Things Stand Today

CMS has not published the final Part B premium. Trustees project $209.50 a month, up from $202.90, with the deductible rising from $283 to about $292. Yesterday’s 3.6 percent Social Security raise covers that increase for most people. On an average benefit, the COLA is about $75 a month, which leaves roughly $68.40 after the projected premium change. People with small benefits or income-related surcharges may keep less. Because the Part B premium applies equally to Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage members, it should not drive your plan choice, but it belongs in your 2027 budget.

How to Change Your Medicare Plan Before the Deadline: Step by Step

Use this order to avoid rushing in the last week.

1. Find your annual notice of change. It should have arrived by September 30. If you cannot find it, download it from your plan’s website or sign in to your MyMedicare account.
2. List your doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and every prescription, including dosage and how often you refill.
3. Open Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare. Enter your drugs and pharmacy to see estimated total yearly costs, not just premiums.
4. Check each plan’s network, referral rules, prior authorization requirements and maximum out-of-pocket limit.
5. Review the Star Rating, but only as a tiebreaker.
6. Pick your plan and enroll online, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or through the plan. Save a confirmation number.
7. Look for a confirmation letter and member ID card in the mail, and check your new plan details in December.
8. If you want Extra Help with drug costs or a Medicare Savings Program, apply through Social Security or your state office. Do not assume you are automatically covered.

If you need free help comparing options, State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselors at shiphelp.org can walk you through it without trying to sell you anything. The Medicare Rights Center helpline is also available at 800-333-4114.

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 Dates and the New Rule Changes Behind Them

Medicare Open Enrollment Changes, Who Must Switch and How to Compare Plans

Processing Time: When Your Plan Switch Starts and What Happens If You Miss It

A plan change made through open enrollment starts on January 1, 2027, whether you enroll today or on December 7. There is no reward for waiting, and the downside of waiting is real: errors, phone queues and website slowdowns tend to pile up in the final days. Plans typically mail a welcome packet and ID card in December, and some provide an online ID the same day.

If you miss December 7, you generally stay in your current plan for 2027. You have two safety valves. Medicare Advantage members can make one change between January 1 and March 31, 2027. That window lets you switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, but it does not allow you to join a stand-alone Part D plan unless you leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare. A Special Enrollment Period can also apply if you move, lose coverage or receive a plan non-renewal notice. Do not count on those exceptions, because they depend on your situation and can require documentation.

What You Pay and When: Medicare Premium Payment Schedule After You Switch

Your first payment at the 2027 rates comes in January. How it arrives depends on your plan and benefits.

If you switch to a plan that bills separately, set a reminder for the first payment. Missing it can lead to a grace period and, eventually, a disenrollment notice.

Leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare: The Medigap Trap

This is where well-intentioned switches go wrong. If you leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, you will likely want a Medigap policy to cover deductibles and coinsurance. Open enrollment lets you change plans, but it does not guarantee you can buy Medigap. In most states, insurers can ask health questions and can decline you or charge more, and many now check prescription drug history as part of underwriting. Conditions that can lead to denial include cancer, diabetes with complications, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

The practical rule is simple: do not cancel Medicare Advantage until you have a Medigap approval in hand, unless you are certain a guaranteed issue right applies. If you received a non-renewal notice, ask a SHIP counselor to confirm your 63-day window before you act.

Five Costly Medicare Open Enrollment Mistakes to Avoid

Most expensive errors are avoidable.

Choosing on premium alone. A plan with a lower monthly premium can have a higher deductible, higher copays and a bigger out-of-pocket limit.

Skipping the drug check. Formularies and tiers change. Re-enter every drug, because a medication that was cheap last year may have moved to a higher tier or need prior authorization.

Assuming your doctor is still in network. Networks shift, and hospitals sometimes leave plans. Call the provider’s billing office and ask whether they accept the plan for 2027.

Ignoring Part D if you use Original Medicare. Going without drug coverage can trigger a lifetime penalty that grows with every month you wait.

Waiting for the last day. Websites and call centers get busy as deadlines approach, and a mistake you catch on December 8 is hard to fix.

Medicare Plan Cost Comparison Calculator

Official Medicare Open Enrollment Links and Resources

Social Security 2027 COLA Increase Chart PDF: See The Latest Estimates From AARP & TSCL, New Monthly Amount

2027 Social Security COLA Is Official: 3.6% Raise Starts in January, Here Is What Your Check Will Look Like

FAQs About the Medicare Open Enrollment Deadline

Conclusion

The Medicare open enrollment deadline arrives with more moving parts than usual: plan exits, rising cost-sharing, new Star Ratings and a Part B premium that is still unconfirmed. For most people, the best protection is a short routine. Read your annual notice, check your drugs and doctors in Plan Finder, compare plans on total cost, and make a decision well before December 7. If you are thinking about leaving Medicare Advantage, check your Medigap options first.

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