Medicare enrollment began today, Thursday, October 15, 2026, and it closes on Monday, December 7. During these seven weeks, anyone with Medicare can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan, with new coverage starting January 1, 2027. The timing is notable because it follows Wednesday’s announcement of a 3.6 percent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, which adds about $75 a month to the average retired worker check just as many people size up their 2027 health costs. CMS released its plan data on September 28, and the headline numbers are calmer than in recent years: the average Medicare Advantage premium is projected to fall to $12.00 a month, while the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400. We’ll be updating this article monthly as official premiums and deductibles are confirmed.
There is a catch, and it is a familiar one. The average person can choose from 35 Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, down from 39 in 2026, so some enrollees will see their plan change or disappear. The standard Part B premium has not been finalized yet, with the trustees projecting $209.50, and stand-alone drug plan premiums may rise now that a federal premium subsidy program is ending. Reading your annual notice of change takes about ten minutes and can save hundreds of dollars. This guide covers every date, the new 2027 numbers, penalties, how to apply, processing times, premium payment schedules and the official links, plus a free calculator.
Medicare Enrollment Dates Key Highlights
| Enrollment period | Dates | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare open enrollment (Annual Enrollment Period) | October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Switch Medicare Advantage plans, join or leave a plan, change Part D coverage. Changes start January 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage open enrollment | January 1 to March 31, 2027 | Current Medicare Advantage members can make one plan change |
| General Enrollment Period | January 1 to March 31, 2027 | Sign up for Part B or premium Part A if you missed your first chance. Coverage starts the month after you sign up |
| Initial Enrollment Period | Seven months around your 65th birthday | First chance to sign up with no late penalty |
| Annual notice of change | Should arrive by September 30 | Explains how your current plan changes next year |
| Official 2027 Part B premium and deductible | Expected late October or November 2026 | Announced by CMS |
| First day of new coverage | January 1, 2027 | Plans chosen in open enrollment take effect |
What Is New for Medicare Enrollment in 2027
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Part D maximum standard deductible | $615 | $700 |
| Part D base beneficiary premium | $38.99 a month | $41.33 a month |
| Average stand-alone drug plan premium | $35.09 a month | $36.00 a month (projected) |
| Average Medicare Advantage premium | $14.37 a month | $12.00 a month (projected) |
| Average Medicare Advantage plan choices per person | 39 | 35 |
| Projected Medicare Advantage enrollment | Not applicable | About 34 million, or 47.4 percent of beneficiaries |
| Standard Part B premium | $202.90 a month | $209.50 projected, not official |
| Part B deductible | $283 | About $292 projected, not official |
CMS announced the Part D numbers in stages. The out-of-pocket cap and deductible were finalized in April, and the base premium of $41.33 and national average bid of $296.05 followed on July 28. The base premium rose from $38.99, a gain held in check by a federal rule that limits yearly increases to 6 percent through 2029.
One more policy shift deserves attention. CMS is ending the voluntary Part D premium stabilization demonstration after 2026. The program gave stand-alone plan members a monthly subsidy and capped increases, and it cost about $9.8 billion over two years. CMS says plan sponsors now have enough experience under the redesigned benefit, but analysts warn stand-alone premiums can climb for people whose plan joined the program. Even so, CMS projects the average stand-alone premium will rise by less than a dollar, from $35.09 to $36.00.
Medicare and ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Dates: Full Calendar, Deadlines and What’s Changing
Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 Dates and the New Rule Changes Behind Them
Medicare Advantage 2027: Fewer Plans, Lower Average Premium
CMS projects the weighted average monthly Medicare Advantage premium will drop 16.5 percent, from $14.37 to $12.00. For plans that include drug coverage, the average Part D portion after rebates is projected to fall 38 percent, from $11.32 to $7.00. More than 99 percent of beneficiaries can reach at least one Medicare Advantage plan, and 97 percent can choose from ten or more.
The number of plans is slipping, though. CMS data show total Medicare Advantage plans edging down from 5,553 to about 5,532, and KFF found the typical beneficiary has 35 options instead of 39. CMS says about eight in ten Medicare Advantage members can stay in their current plan at the same or a lower premium. That still leaves roughly one in five facing a higher premium, a plan termination, or a new insurer. If your plan is leaving your county, you will receive a non-renewal notice, and that notice opens a Special Enrollment Period.
A lower premium is not the same as lower costs. Premiums are only one part of a Medicare Advantage budget. Copays, coinsurance, provider networks, prior authorization rules and the maximum out-of-pocket limit decide what a bad year costs you. Your annual notice of change lists each of these for 2027, so compare them against your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions rather than choosing on the premium alone.
Part D 2027: The $2,400 Cap, $700 Deductible and Drug Price Changes
The Part D benefit now has a hard ceiling. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,400 in 2027, you pay nothing more for covered medications for the rest of the year. That is $300 higher than the 2026 cap of $2,100. The maximum deductible climbs from $615 to $700, though plans can charge less and some charge none.
Several details can ease the sting. The $35 monthly cap on covered insulin continues. A new group of 15 medications with Medicare-negotiated prices takes effect January 1, 2027, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, which CMS estimates will save Part D enrollees about $685 million in out-of-pocket costs. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan also lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly bills, with no fees or interest. It does not reduce what you owe, but it prevents a large bill at the pharmacy counter in January, when deductibles hit hardest.
Plan Finder is the best place to compare. Enter your drugs and your pharmacy, because the same medication can cost different amounts under two plans, and a preferred pharmacy can change the math. About 88 percent of beneficiaries without Extra Help can find a basic drug plan priced at $10.30 a month or less, according to CMS, and 93 percent can find an enhanced plan under $6.
Medicare Part B Premium 2027: Projected Cost and Your Social Security Raise
CMS has not yet announced the official 2027 Part B premium. The Medicare trustees projected $209.50 a month in their June report, up $6.60 from the current $202.90, with the deductible rising from $283 to about $292. Treat those as estimates until CMS confirms them.
Here is how it fits with this week’s COLA. A 3.6 percent raise on the average retired worker benefit of $2,095 is about $75 a month. If the projected premium holds, the net gain is about $68.40 after the higher Part B deduction. People who pay Part B out of a smaller check feel the squeeze more. Someone with a $900 benefit gets $32.40 from the COLA, which a $6.60 premium increase trims by about a fifth. Some beneficiaries are protected by a hold-harmless rule that prevents the premium from reducing their check, but it does not cover people who are newly enrolled, pay premiums directly or owe income-related surcharges.
Higher-income enrollees also pay IRMAA, a surcharge based on tax returns from two years earlier. For 2026, it starts when income exceeds $109,000 for a single filer or $218,000 for joint filers. The 2027 brackets will be published with the Part B premium. If your income dropped because of retirement, divorce or the loss of a spouse, you can ask Social Security to use a more recent year through its request-to-lower-IRMAA page.
Medicare Late Enrollment Penalty: What It Costs and Who Pays
Missing a deadline can follow you for life. The penalties differ by part.
| Part | Penalty | Is it permanent? |
|---|---|---|
| Part B | 10 percent of the standard premium for each full 12-month period you could have enrolled but did not | Yes, for as long as you have Part B |
| Part D | 1 percent of the national base beneficiary premium for each full month without drug coverage that is at least as good as standard coverage | Generally yes |
| Part A (only if you pay a premium) | 10 percent added to the monthly premium, for twice the number of years you delayed | No, it applies for double the years you went without |
Most people receive premium-free Part A and never see that penalty. For Part B, the cost builds in clear steps. Two full years late adds 20 percent. Using the projected $209.50 premium, that is about $41.90 extra every month for life. For Part D, 24 months without creditable coverage adds 24 percent of the $41.33 base premium, roughly $9.90 a month, rounded to the nearest ten cents. The base premium rises each year, so the dollar penalty rises with it. You can avoid the penalty if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicare Open Enrollment Changes, Who Must Switch and How to Compare Plans
Who Can Enroll and When: Initial, General and Special Enrollment Periods
Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months. It begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after it. Medicare coverage always starts on the first of a month. If you sign up before your birthday month, Part B starts the month you turn 65. If you sign up during your birthday month or in the three months after, it begins the following month. Premium-free Part A starts the month you turn 65, or the month before if your birthday is on the 1st.
If you miss that window, the General Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31 each year, with coverage starting the month after you sign up and a possible penalty.
Special Enrollment Periods let you sign up for Part B without a penalty in certain situations.
| Situation | Window |
|---|---|
| Leaving employer coverage (yours or your spouse’s) | Eight months after the job or coverage ends, whichever comes first |
| Losing Medicaid | Six months after it ends |
| Declared disaster or emergency | Six months after the declaration ends |
| Release from incarceration | Through the 12th month after release |
| Incorrect information from a plan or employer | Six months after you notify Social Security |
| TRICARE | 12 months after Social Security notifies you |
COBRA and retiree coverage do not count as active employer coverage, and ending them does not give you a penalty-free window. Losing Marketplace coverage does not qualify either. People still working should confirm with their employer whether the plan is considered creditable coverage before they delay Part B.
How to Apply for Medicare Enrollment: Step by Step
The path depends on whether you already receive Social Security.
- If you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits for at least four months before turning 65, you are usually enrolled in Parts A and B automatically, and your card arrives about three months before your birthday month.
- If you are not receiving benefits, apply through Social Security at ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local office.
- Use your my Social Security account to review your information, and your MyMedicare account to manage coverage after you enroll.
- To change a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan during open enrollment, use Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact the plan directly.
- If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period tied to employer coverage, complete form CMS-10797 and send it to your local Social Security office along with proof of coverage.
- Check Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help eligibility if your income is limited. These can pay premiums and lower drug costs.
Keep your Social Security number, proof of birth date and current insurance cards handy. For free, unbiased help, local State Health Insurance Assistance Programs counselors are available at shiphelp.org, and the Medicare Rights Center helpline is 800-333-4114.
Processing Time: When Does Medicare Coverage Start and When Do Cards Arrive?
Plan changes made during open enrollment take effect on January 1, 2027, no matter when in the seven weeks you act. If you submit more than one change, the last one you make before December 7 is the one that counts, so double check your final selection.
Part B and premium-Part A applications are different. Social Security does not guarantee a set turnaround, and speed depends on whether your records are complete and whether proof of employer coverage is required. Coverage start dates follow the rules above rather than your processing date. If you sign up in the General Enrollment Period, coverage begins the month after you enroll. Your red, white and blue Medicare card is mailed after enrollment, and your plan sends its own member card. If either has not arrived in a few weeks, contact Social Security or your plan. Keep confirmation numbers and screenshots, and check your online account for status updates.
Medicare Premium Payment Schedule: How and When You Pay
Medicare premiums are paid monthly, but the method depends on your situation.
| If you… | How premiums are paid |
|---|---|
| Receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement | Part B premium is deducted from your monthly benefit. Part D and Medicare Advantage premiums can also be deducted if you choose |
| Do not receive those benefits | You get a Medicare bill, usually quarterly, or can use Medicare Easy Pay to pay automatically from a bank account |
| Pay IRMAA | Surcharge is added to Part B and Part D premiums based on tax records from two years earlier |
| Join a Medicare Advantage plan | Your plan bills its premium separately unless you ask for deduction from your benefit |
The first deduction at the new rate comes with your January 2027 benefit. Because new Social Security amounts also begin that month, it is worth checking your notices in December to see your net payment. IRMAA letters and COLA notices both tend to arrive then.
Key Dates for Medicare Enrollment This Fall
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| September 28, 2026 | CMS releases 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan data |
| September 30, 2026 | Annual notice of change should be in your mailbox |
| October 14, 2026 | Social Security announces the 3.6 percent COLA |
| October 15, 2026 | Medicare open enrollment begins |
| Late October to November 2026 | CMS expected to announce the 2027 Part B premium and deductible |
| December 7, 2026 | Medicare open enrollment ends |
| January 1, 2027 | New plans start, Medicare Advantage open enrollment and General Enrollment Period begin |
| March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage open enrollment and General Enrollment Period end |
October 15 Tax Deadline Is Final — What Happens If You Still Don’t File
Official Medicare Enrollment Links and Resources
| Resource | What you can do | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Plan Finder | Compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans | https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare |
| MyMedicare login | Sign in, view coverage and claims | https://www.medicare.gov/account/login |
| Medicare coverage start dates | See when coverage begins and enrollment windows | https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/sign-up/when-does-medicare-coverage-start |
| Social Security Medicare sign-up | Apply for Part A and Part B | https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up |
| my Social Security | Register, sign in, check status | https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount |
| Request to lower IRMAA | Appeal an income-based surcharge | https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/lower-irmaa |
| Part D Extra Help | Apply for help with drug costs | https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help |
| SHIP counseling | Free local Medicare counselors | https://www.shiphelp.org |
| CMS Part D 2027 fact sheet | Official bid and premium information | https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-part-d-2027-national-average-monthly-bid-amount-information |
| CMS newsroom | Official announcements | https://www.cms.gov/newsroom |
| Medicare Rights Center | Independent helpline and guides | https://www.medicarerights.org |
| 1-800-MEDICARE | Plan changes and general questions | 1-800-633-4227 |
| Social Security phone line | Enrollment and appointments | 1-800-772-1213 |
Free Medicare Enrollment Calculator
Medicare Enrollment Calculator
Find your enrollment window and estimate late enrollment penalties.
1. My Initial Enrollment Period
2. Late enrollment penalty estimate
Estimates only. Medicare sets your actual dates and penalties. The 2027 Part B premium of $209.50 is a trustees projection until CMS confirms it. Part B penalty is 10% per full 12 months, Part D penalty is 1% of the base premium per full month, rounded to the nearest $0.10. Official info: medicare.gov
FAQs About Medicare Open Enrollment
When does Medicare open enrollment start and end?
It runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and coverage chosen during this time starts January 1, 2027.
Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Only in limited cases. Medicare Advantage members get one change between January 1 and March 31, and Special Enrollment Periods apply if you move or lose coverage.
Do I have to do anything if I like my plan?
Not necessarily, but you should read your annual notice of change. Premiums, copays, networks and drug lists change every year.
Will my Medicare premium go up in 2027?
The projected standard Part B premium is $209.50, up from $202.90, but the official number is not out yet. Medicare Advantage averages are projected to fall.
What is the Part D cap for 2027?
Your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs is capped at $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026.
Can I enroll in Medicare for the first time during open enrollment?
No. Open enrollment is for changing plans. First-time Part A and Part B enrollment follows your Initial Enrollment Period or the General Enrollment Period.
Where can I get free help?
Contact SHIP counselors at shiphelp.org, call 1-800-MEDICARE or reach the Medicare Rights Center at 800-333-4114.
What is the best month to enroll in Medicare?
For first-time enrollees, the best choice is usually the three months before the month you turn 65, which starts coverage on time.
What happens if I miss Medicare open enrollment?
You generally keep your current plan for 2027. You may switch during Medicare Advantage open enrollment if you qualify, or through a Special Enrollment Period.
Conclusion
Medicare open enrollment is the one window each year when you can reshape your coverage without special permission, and this year it comes with real changes: a higher Part D cap and deductible, fewer Medicare Advantage plans, a projected dip in average Medicare Advantage premiums, and a Part B premium that CMS has yet to confirm. The 3.6 percent Social Security raise helps, but a rising premium can take back part of it.
A simple routine works for most people. Read your annual notice of change, price your drugs in Plan Finder, confirm your doctors are in network, and check whether you qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program. Make your final choice before December 7, and keep proof of what you picked. We’ll continue refreshing this guide each month with the latest numbers.
