Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15: What to Know for 2027

Medicare Open Enrollment starts Thursday, October 15, and runs through December 7, 2026. It's your yearly chance to change Medicare Advantage plans, switch between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, or pick a different drug plan for 2027. This year, many people have fewer plans to choose from, drug plan premiums are shifting, and some insurers are leaving entire counties. Here's what's changing, what to check before December 7, and every guide on our site that can help.

The Dates That Matter

Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.

If you want to keep your current coverage and your plan is still offered, you generally don't need to re-enroll. Your plan's Annual Notice of Change explains what's different for 2027. See our guide to 2027 key dates.

A few other dates are worth knowing:

• If your Medicare Advantage plan isn't renewed, you can join another plan through the last day of February. Our guide for plans being cancelled walks through your options.
• If a plan with a 5-star rating is offered where you live, you can use the 5-star Special Enrollment Period to switch to it only once between December 8 and November 30 of the following year.
• If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, there's a second window from January 1 to March 31. Our key dates guide explains what you can and can't change then.

What's Changing for 2027

Fewer plan choices. The average person on Medicare can choose from 28 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in 2027, down from 32 in 2026. Some counties have none at all. See where Medicare Advantage plans are being cut and which counties have no plans.

Insurers leaving markets. Several large insurers are pulling out of hundreds of counties for 2027. Humana members can read what Humana's 2027 changes mean.

Medicare Advantage premiums. CMS projects the average Medicare Advantage premium will fall from $14.37 a month in 2026 to $12.00 in 2027, and about 8 in 10 Medicare Advantage enrollees can keep their plan at the same or a lower premium. CMS expects extra benefits like dental and vision to stay stable overall, but individual plans can change theirs. See which extra benefits are being cut.

Drug plan premiums and costs. CMS projects the average stand-alone drug plan premium will rise less than $1, from $35.09 to $36. Individual plans can rise by more. Our Part D guide covers premiums and the 2027 out-of-pocket cap.

Star ratings. For 2027, 15 Medicare Advantage drug plan contracts earned five stars.About 71 percent of people in Medicare Advantage drug plans are in contracts rated four stars or higher. Plan Finder shows each plan's rating.

Your Social Security check. Social Security announced a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 on October 14, an average of about $75 a month for retirees, and the 2027 Part B premium is expected in November. See what the 3.6% COLA means for your check and how much of your raise Part B could take. Higher earners should also check the IRMAA income brackets.

What to Do Before December 7

1. Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists your plan's 2027 premium, drug coverage and network changes. If your plan is leaving, you'll get a separate letter.
2. Make a list. Write down your prescriptions with doses, your doctors, and the pharmacy you use.
3. Compare plans on Medicare's Plan Finder. Enter your ZIP code and drugs to compare estimated costs, not just premiums.
4. Check networks. If you're in Medicare Advantage, confirm your doctors and hospitals are in the plan's network for 2027.
5. Think twice before leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare. If you want a Medigap policy, read when you can buy Medigap first.
6. Ask about cost help. If your income is limited, Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help can lower your costs. See our cost-help guide.
7. Get free help. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free, unbiased counseling, and 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our Guides for Every Open Enrollment Question

Dates and deadlines

• When Do 2027 Medicare Plans Come Out? Key Dates to Know
• Why This September Medicare Letter Matters More Than Any Other

If your plan is changing or leaving

• Fewer Medicare Advantage Plans in 2027: Is Your Area Losing Options?
• Is Your 2027 Humana Medicare Advantage Plan Being Cut?
• What Happens If Your 2027 Medicare Plan Is Cancelled?
• Will You Have Any 2027 Medicare Advantage Options?
• Why Are 2027 Medicare Advantage Benefits Still Shrinking?
• Will Your 2027 Medicare Advantage Premium Really Drop?

Drug costs

• Will Your 2027 Part D Out-of-Pocket Cap Go Up to $2,400?
• Why Is 2027 Medicare Part D Costing More?

Your premiums and Social Security

• 2027 COLA Is 3.6%: What It Means for Your Check and Medicare
• Will Your 2027 Social Security Raise Beat Medicare's Increase?
• 2026 IRMAA Income Brackets & Surcharges
• Who Gets the 2026 $90 Medicare Check — and Who Doesn't?

Choosing your coverage

• Medicare Advantage in 2026: What You Need to Know
• Medigap Guaranteed Issue Rights
• Do You Qualify for Help With Your 2026 Medicare Premiums?
• Why Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Matter More in 2026
• Find Your Medicare Path: 6 Questions for 2027

Everything about 2027

• What's Changing for Medicare in 2027