Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27: Dates, Changes & Deadlines

The Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 period, officially known as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), runs from 15 October to 7 December 2026, giving beneficiaries their once-a-year opportunity to review, switch, or update their Medicare coverage for the upcoming year. Any changes made during this window take effect starting 1 January 2027. This annual window is one of the most important dates on the Medicare calendar, since plans can change their costs, covered providers, pharmacy networks, and benefits every year — meaning even beneficiaries who are happy with their current plan should carefully review the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter their plan is required to mail by the end of September 2026.

During this year’s cycle, beneficiaries will also be navigating updated Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles, following the official announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The standard monthly Part B premium for 2026 stands at $202.90, up from $185.00 in 2025, while the annual Part B deductible has risen to $283. This guide walks through everything beneficiaries need to know about the Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 window, including exact deadlines, what can and cannot be changed, updated premium figures, the Part D out-of-pocket cap, and practical tips to make the most of this enrollment season.

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 Key Highlights

What Is Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27?

Medicare Open Enrollment, also referred to as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) or Annual Coordinated Election Period, is a fixed seven-week window each fall during which all Medicare beneficiaries can review and change their health and prescription drug coverage for the following calendar year. This period exists because Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans are permitted to revise their premiums, coverage rules, and provider or pharmacy networks annually, meaning a plan that worked well one year may not remain the best fit the next.

During the 2026-27 Open Enrollment window, beneficiaries can make several types of changes depending on their current coverage, and any updates finalized before the 7 December deadline will take effect on 1 January 2027. Importantly, if a beneficiary is satisfied with their current plan and it continues to be offered, no action is required — coverage will simply continue automatically into the new year.

What Can You Change During Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27?

The Medicare AEP 2026-27 allows beneficiaries to make the following types of coverage changes:

• Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without prescription drug coverage.
• Join, switch, or drop a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, if enrolled in Original Medicare.
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or move back from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.
• Add or drop drug coverage within an existing Medicare Advantage plan.
• If switching to Original Medicare, beneficiaries may also need to enroll in a separate Part D plan and can consider adding Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) coverage, subject to Medigap’s own separate underwriting and enrollment rules.

Medicare Part B Premium and Deductible Changes 2026

As beneficiaries plan their coverage for 2027 during this Open Enrollment window, it’s useful to understand the current 2026 Part B costs, since these form the baseline for evaluating plan affordability:

According to CMS, the 2026 premium and deductible increases are mainly attributed to projected price changes and expected utilization increases consistent with historical trends. Higher-income beneficiaries continue to pay additional Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA), which now begin at incomes above $109,000 for individuals and $218,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2026, calculated using income tax data from two years prior.

Medicare Part D: Understanding the $2,000 Out-of-Pocket Cap

One of the most significant ongoing changes affecting Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 decisions is the $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs under Part D, introduced through the Inflation Reduction Act. This cap replaced the earlier “coverage gap” or donut hole structure, meaning that once a beneficiary’s out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,000 in a calendar year, their plan covers 100% of further covered prescription costs for the remainder of that year. Beneficiaries reviewing plans for 2027 coverage should confirm the exact cap and cost-sharing details for the upcoming year directly through their plan’s ANOC letter or the official Medicare Plan Finder tool, since CMS finalizes these figures separately each year.

Additionally, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan allows eligible beneficiaries to spread their out-of-pocket drug costs into capped monthly installments throughout the year rather than facing large lump-sum payments at the pharmacy counter — an option worth considering during this enrollment window for those managing high prescription costs.

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27: Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing Your Plan

Follow these steps to make the most of the Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 window:

1. Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter carefully as soon as it arrives (by 30 September 2026), noting any changes to premiums, benefits, or provider networks.
2. Check your current prescriptions against your plan’s drug formulary to confirm continued coverage and cost tier for 2027.
3. Confirm your doctors and preferred hospitals remain in-network, since provider participation can change from year to year.
4. Compare available plans in your area using the official Medicare Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov.
5. Make your coverage decision and submit changes before the 7 December 2026 deadline to ensure they take effect on 1 January 2027.
6. If you’re satisfied with your current plan and it’s still being offered, no action is required — your coverage will simply continue.

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27 vs Other Enrollment Periods

It’s important not to confuse the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) with other Medicare enrollment windows that serve different purposes:

Missing the AEP deadline generally means beneficiaries must wait for the next applicable enrollment window, which could mean a full year in a plan that no longer fits their needs, or the possibility of late enrollment penalties for new enrollees who miss their initial window.

Who Is Eligible to Make Changes During Medicare Open Enrollment 2026-27?

All Medicare beneficiaries — whether currently enrolled in Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, or a standalone Part D drug plan — are eligible to review and make coverage changes during this window. What a beneficiary can specifically change depends on their current type of coverage, so it’s worth confirming your existing plan type before comparing new options.

Official Website and Important Links

Beneficiaries are strongly advised to use only the official Medicare and CMS websites, or licensed insurance agents, when comparing or enrolling in plans, to avoid misleading third-party marketing.

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