The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During that window, anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D prescription drug plan. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, most plans simply renew, but their costs and coverage can change.
The dates that matter
| Window | Dates | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Notice of Change arrives | By September 30, 2026 | Your current plan mails a letter listing every change for 2027. Read this first. |
| Annual Enrollment Period | October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes start January 1, 2027. |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 to March 31, 2027 | If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change: a different Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare plus a Part D plan. |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | Moving, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help or Medi-Cal, and other life events can open a window outside the usual dates. |
The Annual Enrollment Period applies to Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D). It does not apply to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies, which follow a separate set of rules.
What you can change during Annual Enrollment
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan.
If you make more than one change during the window, the last one you make before December 7 is the one that counts.
Start with your Annual Notice of Change
Every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan has to send its members an Annual Notice of Change before the end of September. It is usually a thick envelope that looks like junk mail. It is not. It is the single most useful document you will get all year, because it lists exactly what your plan is changing for next year.
When you open it, look for these five things:
- Monthly premium. Is it going up, going down, or staying the same?
- Your prescriptions. Is every drug you take still on the plan's drug list? Did any move to a more expensive tier, or pick up a new requirement like prior authorization?
- Your doctors and hospital. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, confirm your doctors, your medical group, and the hospital you would want to use are still in the network for 2027.
- Your costs when you use care. Deductibles, copays for specialist visits, and the plan's yearly maximum out-of-pocket limit can all change.
- Your pharmacy. Is the pharmacy you use still in network, and still a preferred pharmacy if your plan uses that distinction?
If your notice did not arrive, call the member services number on the back of your plan ID card and ask for a copy.
What is different for 2027
A few changes affect almost everyone with drug coverage:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400. In 2026 it was $2,100. Once you reach the cap on covered Part D drugs, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of 2027.
- You can still spread drug costs over the year. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you pay your out-of-pocket drug costs in monthly amounts instead of all at once at the pharmacy counter. You opt in through your plan.
- Plans still change every year. Drug lists, networks, and copays are reset annually, so last year's comparison does not carry over.
Medicare usually announces the next year's Part B premium and deductible in the fall. For the current official amounts, check Medicare.gov.
A one-page review checklist
Before you call me or anyone else, gather these. It makes any review faster and more accurate.
- Your red, white, and blue Medicare card and your current plan ID card
- A list of every prescription: name, dose, and how often you take it
- The names of your doctors, specialists, and medical group
- The hospital you would want to use
- The pharmacy you use, and whether you use mail order
- Your Annual Notice of Change, if you have a plan now
- Anything that did not work well for you this year
How I can help
I sit down with you, in my Valencia office or by phone, and we go through the checklist together. I can compare the plans I am appointed to offer in your ZIP code against your doctors and your prescriptions, side by side. If your current plan still fits, I will tell you that. If something I do not offer would suit you better, I will point you to Medicare.gov or HICAP so you can see every option.
A word about phone calls. Medicare will not call you out of the blue to sell you a plan, and neither will I. I only contact people who have asked me to. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks for your Medicare number, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE directly.
Common questions
When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027?
The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Coverage changes you make during that time start January 1, 2027.
Do I have to do anything during Annual Enrollment?
No. If you are happy with your coverage and it still fits, most plans renew automatically. The risk is assuming nothing changed. Plans can change their costs, drug lists, and doctor networks every year, so it is worth reading your Annual Notice of Change before you decide to stay put.
What if I miss December 7?
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31 lets you make one change: switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or go back to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan. Some life events also create Special Enrollment Periods. Outside those windows, you generally wait for the next Annual Enrollment Period.
Can I change my Medigap policy during Annual Enrollment?
Annual Enrollment does not apply to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies. Medigap has its own rules. In California, people with a Medigap policy have a yearly 60-day window starting on their birthday to switch to another Medigap policy with the same or fewer benefits without medical underwriting. See my guide to Medigap in California for details.
Is the Part D out-of-pocket cap going up in 2027?
Yes. CMS set the 2027 Part D annual out-of-pocket threshold at $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches that amount, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the calendar year.
Does it cost anything to have you review my plan?
No. My review is free of charge to you. If you enroll in a plan through me, I am paid by the insurance company. You do not pay me anything.
Where these facts come from: Medicare.gov enrollment period guidance; CMS 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D announcements; 42 CFR Part 422 and 423. Rules and dollar amounts change. Page reviewed October 4, 2026.