When Do 2027 Medicare Plans Come Out? Key Dates to Know

If you are wondering when 2027 Medicare plans come out, you can start looking before Open Enrollment begins. CMS says information for next year's plans is available beginning in October, and Medicare's key-dates sheet points people to Plan Finder to preview options. Open Enrollment, when most people can actually switch, runs October 15 through December 7, and changes take effect January 1. This guide walks through the dates from the fall into spring, what each one lets you do, and what to check first. Everything here is current as of October 8, 2026.

When Can You See 2027 Medicare Plans?

You do not have to wait for Open Enrollment to look. CMS says information for next year's plans is available beginning in October, and the Remember Key Medicare Dates sheet tells people to visit Plan Finder to preview plan options for the upcoming year. Plan Finder lets you compare plans side by side, and you can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Your current plan also sends an Annual Notice of Change each fall, and Medicare.gov lists September as the usual timing. It includes any changes in coverage, costs and more that take effect in January, and Medicare says to review it to decide whether the plan will keep meeting your needs. If you do not get it, contact your plan.

The broader picture for 2027 looks calm on average. In a September 28, 2026 announcement, CMS said Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug programs are expected to remain stable in 2027, and it projected the average standalone Part D premium to rise by less than $1 a month, from $35.09 in 2026 to $36 in 2027. Your own plan can still change a lot, which is why the notice and a Plan Finder comparison matter.

What Can You Change From October 15 to December 7?

Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, and what you can do depends on the coverage you have now. Medicare.gov says that if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage. If you have Original Medicare, you can join, drop or switch a Medicare drug plan. You can also switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.

The changes take effect January 1, and the plan must get your request by December 7. If you switch to Original Medicare, you may need to join a separate drug plan, and Medicare.gov notes there are limits on when you can add a Medigap policy. January 1 is also when the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400, which our 2027 Part D cap guide explains.

What If Your Plan Is Leaving Medicare for 2027?

Some plans are not renewing. Humana said on its July 29, 2026 earnings call that its 2027 exits will affect about 600,000 members, and our Humana guide explains what a letter means. The rules below apply to any plan that does not renew.

When a Medicare Advantage plan's contract with Medicare is not renewed, Medicare.gov gives you a special enrollment period from December 8 through the last day of February of the following year to switch to another plan. If you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan, you will be enrolled in Original Medicare. Medigap has its own clock. If you switch to Original Medicare, Medicare.gov says you have a right to buy a Medigap policy sold in your state, and you must apply starting 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and no more than 63 days after it ends.

What Happens After January 1?

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare.gov lists a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31, and you can use it only if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage, or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare, and you can then join a separate drug plan. Changes take effect the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

That window is not a second Open Enrollment for everyone, and it does not let someone in Original Medicare join a Medicare Advantage plan. For the rest of what is changing in 2027, start with our 2027 Medicare guide, then read about Part B premiums and the 2027 COLA and our guide to 2027 Medicare Advantage premiums and plan choice.