Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this period, you can change Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage for January 1.
Medicare Open Enrollment, also called the Annual Election Period, is the main yearly window for changing Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage. It runs from October 15 through December 7, and changes generally take effect January 1.
It is not the same as your first Medicare enrollment period or Medigap Open Enrollment.
What Can You Do?
During Medicare Open Enrollment, you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
- Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Join, switch, or drop a stand-alone Part D plan when eligible
If you return to Original Medicare, consider whether you need a Part D plan. Also investigate Medigap rights before leaving Medicare Advantage; annual Open Enrollment does not guarantee that you can buy any Medigap policy.
Review Next Year’s Coverage
Your needs can change too. New prescriptions, diagnoses, doctors, or travel plans may make last year’s plan a poor fit. Read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change, which explains next year’s changes. Compare your 2026 coverage with what the plan will offer in 2027:
- Monthly premium and deductible in each year
- Each prescription, dose, tier, restriction, and preferred pharmacy
- Each clinician, hospital, and service location
- Expected yearly medical and drug spending, with their separate limits
- Extra-benefit limits and travel coverage
Fill in actual amounts from the notices and plan documents. The maximum Part D deductible and the limit on your spending for covered drugs change in 2027; see the costs guide’s year labels.
Compare Plans and Check Enrollment
Use Medicare Plan Compare with your current medication list. If your plan continues next year and you remain eligible, you generally stay enrolled without signing up again each fall. If you receive notice that your plan or coverage is ending, follow the dates and instructions in that notice.
What Is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?
This separate period runs from January 1 through March 31. If you are already in Medicare Advantage, you can generally make one change: switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and, if needed, join Part D. You cannot use this period to join or leave a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plan.
People with Original Medicare cannot use the January–March period to join Medicare Advantage or change stand-alone Part D plans.
Medigap Open Enrollment follows a different schedule. It is usually a one-time six-month window based on your age and when Part B starts, rather than a yearly fall event.
Medicare policy sources last checked: October 8, 2026.