Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec 7: What Changes in 2027

If you are on Medicare, the most important health-insurance deadline of the year is coming up fast. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect on January 1, 2027. After December 7, most people are locked into their plan for another year.

More than 70 million people are enrolled in Medicare, and plans change every year: premiums, drug lists, copays and even which doctors are in network. Several big changes are also coming in 2027, including a higher cap on drug costs. This guide explains what open enrollment is, what is changing, and a simple checklist to make sure you are not overpaying.

What Is Medicare Open Enrollment?

Medicare Open Enrollment (also called the Annual Enrollment Period) is the yearly window when anyone with Medicare can change how they get coverage. Between October 15 and December 7 you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.

If you are happy with your plan and it is not changing much, you do not have to do anything. Your coverage usually renews automatically. But "doing nothing" can be expensive if your plan raised its costs or dropped one of your medicines.

Note: Medicare Open Enrollment is different from the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) marketplace enrollment, which covers people under 65. We covered that in ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Price Changes and Tips

Medicare Parts A, B, C and D in Plain English

• Part A (hospital insurance): covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay, hospice and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for it.
• Part B (medical insurance): covers doctor visits, outpatient care, lab tests and preventive services. Most people pay a monthly premium, usually taken from their Social Security check.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage): private plans approved by Medicare that bundle Parts A and B, and usually D, often with extras like dental or vision.
• Part D (drug coverage): stand-alone plans or coverage inside a Medicare Advantage plan that help pay for prescription drugs.

What Is Changing in Medicare for 2027?

Some 2027 numbers are official and some are still government projections. Here is what is known, based on Medicare.gov and Yahoo Finance's October 13, 2026 summary of federal forecasts:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400. The yearly cap on what you pay for covered prescription drugs rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, covered drugs cost you nothing for the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible: up to $700. No drug plan can have a deductible higher than $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026. Many plans charge less.
• Part B premium (projected): about $209.50 a month, up about $6.60, according to the Medicare Trustees. The official figure is usually announced in November.
• Part B deductible (projected): rising from $283 to somewhere between about $292 and $310.
• More negotiated drug prices: lower negotiated prices for a second group of 15 drugs, including some GLP-1 drugs and cancer and diabetes medicines, take effect January 1, 2027.
• Part D premium subsidy ending: a temporary federal subsidy that reduced stand-alone drug plan premiums in 2026 is ending, so some stand-alone plan premiums may rise.

Medicare Advantage plans are shifting

Some insurers are scaling back Medicare Advantage offerings because of rising costs, and some plans are leaving certain counties. If your plan is ending, you should have received a notice, and you will need to pick a new plan. Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter carefully; plans send it by September 30, and it lists every change for next year.

Your 7-Step Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist

1. Read your Annual Notice of Change. Look for premium changes, new copays, and changes to the drug list (formulary).
2. List all your prescriptions with the exact dose. Check each one's tier, cost and whether it needs prior authorization, not just whether it is "covered".
3. Check your doctors and hospitals. If you are in Medicare Advantage, confirm they are still in network for 2027. Check your preferred pharmacy too.
4. Use the official Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. Enter your drugs and pharmacy to compare the estimated total yearly cost, not just the monthly premium.
5. Compare total costs, not just premiums. A $0-premium plan can cost more over a year if its copays, deductibles or drug prices are higher.
6. Think about your health next year. Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket limit unless you add a Medigap policy, while Medicare Advantage plans must have one. If you expect surgery or a lot of care, that limit matters.
7. Get free help. Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with free, unbiased counselors. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Watch Out for Medicare Scams

Open enrollment is peak season for scammers. Medicare and Social Security will not call you out of the blue to sell a plan, ask for your Medicare number to "send a new card", or threaten to cancel your coverage. Be careful with ads in search results that imitate Medicare, and never give your Medicare number to someone who contacts you first. Our guides on stopping spam calls and robocalls and spotting phishing emails can help.

Missed December 7? Other Enrollment Windows

• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 to March 31): if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare once during this window.
• Special Enrollment Periods: moving, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid, or your plan leaving your area can let you change plans at other times.

How Does This Affect Your Social Security Check?

Most people have their Part B premium deducted from their Social Security benefit. In 2027, benefits rise by a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment, so most retirees will still see a net increase even if Part B goes up. We explained the details in Social Security COLA 2027: 3.6% Raise and What You Will Get

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage?

October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Do I have to do anything during open enrollment?

No. If you do nothing, your current plan usually continues. But you should still review it, because costs and covered drugs can change every year.

What is the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket maximum for 2027?

$2,400 for covered prescription drugs, up from $2,100 in 2026.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare?

Yes, during open enrollment (October 15 to December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). Buying a Medigap policy afterward may involve health questions in many states, so check the rules first.

Where can I compare Medicare plans for free?

Use the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your state's SHIP program for free one-on-one help.

Sources: Medicare.gov (Part D costs and "Your Medicare in 2027" publication) and Yahoo Finance's October 13, 2026 summary of federal projections. Figures marked "projected" are forecasts until CMS publishes the official 2027 amounts.