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Guides · Medicare Annual Enrollment

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: dates, deadlines & how it works

Every fall, Medicare gives you one main window to review your coverage and switch if something better fits. For this season it runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and anything you change takes effect January 1, 2027. Here's exactly what you can do, how to get ready in about 20 minutes, and what noise to tune out.

What Open Enrollment is — and when it happens

Medicare's fall window has an official name: the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP. You'll also hear it called Open Enrollment or the fall Medicare season. Whatever the label, the dates are the same every year:

  • October 15 – December 7, 2026 The Annual Enrollment Period. Compare plans and make as many changes as you like — only your last choice counts.
  • January 1, 2027 Your new coverage begins. Any change you made during AEP takes effect on this date.
  • January 1 – March 31, 2027 The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) — a shorter, more limited second window (more on this below).

A helpful way to remember it: you shop in the fall, and your new plan starts with the new year. The December 7 deadline is firm, so give yourself a little room before it rather than deciding on the last day.

Why this window matters even if you're happy

Plans change their prices and benefits every year. The plan that fit you in 2026 may cost more, cover different drugs, or drop a benefit in 2027. AEP is your yearly chance to check — and to fix it if the plan moved away from you.

What you can and can't do during AEP

The Annual Enrollment Period is the most flexible window of the year. During October 15 – December 7 you can:

  • Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Move from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) into a Medicare Advantage plan, or leave Medicare Advantage and go back to Original Medicare.
  • Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Pick a different plan or a different carrier if yours no longer fits.
  • Join, switch, or drop a Part D drug plan. Add prescription drug coverage, move to a different drug plan, or drop one you no longer need.

You can make more than one change during the window — the plan you're enrolled in when December 7 passes is the one that starts January 1. Nothing you try out earlier in the window locks you in.

One thing AEP does not guarantee: a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. Switching Medigap plans can involve medical underwriting outside your one-time guaranteed-issue window, so those rules work differently from the AEP changes above.

Don't confuse AEP with the MA Open Enrollment Period

If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get a second, narrower window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP), January 1 – March 31, 2027. During OEP you may make one change — switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or drop back to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. It is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan; you can't use it to leave Original Medicare or to shop around repeatedly the way you can during AEP.

How to prepare in about 20 minutes

You don't need to be an expert to make a good choice. Gather a few things first, then let the numbers do the work:

  1. Read your ANOC (about 5 minutes). Each September your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change. It lists exactly what's moving next year — premium, deductible, copays, and any dropped benefits. Skim the summary of changes at the front.
  2. List your prescriptions and pharmacies (about 5 minutes). Write down every drug you take, the dose, and where you fill it. Drug coverage and pharmacy pricing are where plans differ the most.
  3. Check your doctors (about 3 minutes). Note the doctors and specialists you want to keep, so you can confirm they're still in the plan's network.
  4. See what changed in your plan (about 3 minutes). Use our free What Changed tool to compare your current plan's premium, deductible, max out-of-pocket, star rating, and benefits side by side for 2027 — using public CMS data, with no sign-up.
  5. Confirm on the official Medicare Plan Finder (a few minutes). When you've narrowed it down, enter your drugs and pharmacies on the official Medicare Plan Finder to see your real, personalized costs — or call 1-800-MEDICARE. That's where you actually enroll.

What to watch out for

The fall Medicare season brings a flood of television ads, robocalls, and mailers — much of it built to capture your phone number and route it to a call center. A few plain rules will keep you clear of the noise:

  • You never have to give a phone number to compare plans. The official Plan Finder and tools like ours show you plan details without asking who you are.
  • The government never cold-calls you. Medicare will not phone you out of the blue to sell a plan or ask for your Medicare number, bank details, or Social Security number. A caller who does is a warning sign, not a helper.
  • "Free gifts" and pressure to decide today are sales tactics. Real coverage decisions don't expire in ten minutes. You have until December 7, and you can change your mind before then.
  • Be careful who you hand your Medicare number to. Treat it like a credit card number. If you want unbiased help, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, no-commission counseling.

Where BenefitDial stands

We're an independent public utility, not a broker or agent. We take no commissions from insurance companies, we never ask for your name, phone number, or email, and we never sell leads or data. We show you the public numbers and then point you to medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to enroll. Read our privacy pledge.

See what changed in your plan

Compare your Medicare plan's premium, deductible, max out-of-pocket, and benefits from 2026 to 2027 — instantly, with no phone number.

Open the What Changed tool →

All the key dates for this fall

AEP runs Oct 15 – Dec 7. The 2027 COLA is announced October 14, 2026. Here's the full calendar in one place.

See the timeline →

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I do nothing during Open Enrollment?

In most cases your current plan simply renews for the new year — but often with changed terms. Your premium, deductible, drug list, or benefits may be different in 2027 than they are today. If your plan is being terminated, you may be moved back to Original Medicare and lose drug coverage. That's why it's worth a quick check even if you plan to stay put. Read your Annual Notice of Change and compare with our What Changed tool.

Can I change my mind after I enroll?

Yes, within the window. Until December 7, 2026, you can make as many changes as you like — only your final choice takes effect January 1. After that, if you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31, 2027.

When does my new coverage actually start?

January 1, 2027. Any change you make during the October 15 – December 7 window begins on the first day of the new year, not the day you enroll.

Do I enroll through BenefitDial?

No. BenefitDial helps you understand what changed and what to compare, but we don't enroll you and we don't hand you off to anyone. To enroll, use the official Medicare Plan Finder or call 1-800-MEDICARE. There's no form here and no one will call you.

Is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period the same thing as AEP?

No. AEP (October 15 – December 7) is open to everyone on Medicare and lets you make any type of change. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31, 2027) is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan and allows just one change. Use AEP as your main window; treat OEP as a limited backup.