Medicare open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027. During those weeks you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, or join, switch or drop a Part D drug plan. Your new plan must get your request by December 7. In 2027 the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400.
Key takeaways
- Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. The plan must receive your request by December 7, and new coverage starts January 1, 2027.
- The yearly cap on out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027. The maximum Part D deductible rises from $615 to $700.
- CMS projects the average Medicare Advantage premium will fall from $14.37 to $12.00 a month in 2027, while the average stand-alone Part D premium rises less than $1, to $36.
- CMS had not announced the 2027 Part B premium as of October 7, 2026. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 a month.
- Free one-on-one help is available from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and from 1-800-MEDICARE, which answers 24 hours a day.
Medicare’s annual open enrollment period for 2027 coverage opens Thursday, October 15, 2026, and closes Monday, December 7, 2026. It is the one window each year when anyone with Medicare can rethink their health and drug coverage, and whatever you pick starts January 1, 2027.
This year deserves a closer look than usual. The cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered Part D drugs rises to $2,400, the maximum drug deductible goes up, and CMS is ending a temporary Part D premium demonstration after 2026. Plans also change their premiums, drug lists and networks every year, so last year’s choice is not automatically right for 2027.
When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027?
Open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Medicare.gov says the plan must get your request to join by December 7, and the new coverage begins January 1 of the next year.
Open enrollment is not how you first sign up for Medicare. If you are turning 65, you use your Initial Enrollment Period (explained below), and you sign up for Part A and Part B through Social Security.
Who should use Medicare open enrollment?
Anyone who already has Medicare. That includes people in Original Medicare (Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance, run by the federal government), people in Medicare Advantage (Part C, private plans that take the place of Original Medicare), and anyone with a Part D drug plan.
If you like your coverage, you don’t have to act. CMS says people who want to keep their current coverage generally do not need to re-enroll. But a plan that worked in 2026 can cost more or cover less in 2027, so check before you decide to stay.
What can you change during Medicare open enrollment?
During open enrollment, Medicare.gov says you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
- Join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage.
- Join, drop or switch a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you have Original Medicare.
You don’t need to cancel your old plan when you switch. Your old drug coverage ends when the new coverage begins, and the new plan sends a letter confirming the start date.
One caution before leaving Medicare Advantage: Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance, which helps pay Original Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs) is not guaranteed. Outside your one-time Medigap open enrollment period, insurers can generally deny you a policy based on medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue right or extra protection under state law. Original Medicare by itself has no yearly out-of-pocket limit.
How is open enrollment different from other Medicare enrollment periods?
| Enrollment period | When | What you can do | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, that month, and the 3 months after | Sign up for Medicare and join a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan | Depends on when you sign up |
| Open Enrollment Period | October 15–December 7 each year | Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage; join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage or Part D plans | January 1 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1–March 31, only if you’re already in Medicare Advantage | One change: switch Medicare Advantage plans, or return to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan | First of the month after the plan gets your request |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | Changes after certain life events, such as moving or losing other coverage | Varies |
The January–March window is a narrower second chance. CMS’s enrollment fact sheet says you can make only one change during it, and you can’t use it to move from Original Medicare into Medicare Advantage or to switch stand-alone drug plans.
What’s changing for Part D drug costs in 2027?
The headline change is the out-of-pocket cap. CMS’s 2027 Rate Announcement sets it at $2,400 for 2027 and raises the maximum standard deductible to $700. Both amounts are updated each year based on growth in Part D drug spending.
| Year | Part D out-of-pocket cap | Maximum Part D deductible |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,000 | $590 |
| 2026 | $2,100 | $615 |
| 2027 | $2,400 | $700 |
Sources: CMS 2026 and 2027 Rate Announcements.
Here is how the 2027 benefit works, according to Medicare.gov. You pay the full cost of covered drugs until you meet your plan’s deductible (some plans have none). Then you pay 25% coinsurance until your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,400. After that, you pay nothing for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. The same stages apply to Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage. Covered insulin costs no more than $35 for a one-month supply, with no deductible.
Premiums are separate from the cap. In its September 28 announcement, CMS projected that the average stand-alone Part D premium will rise less than $1, from $35.09 to $36 a month, as the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration ends. The weighted average Medicare Advantage premium is projected to fall from $14.37 to $12.00. Averages hide big differences between plans, so check yours.
What is the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan?
It’s an optional way to pay for your drugs. Instead of paying at the pharmacy, you get a monthly bill from your plan that spreads your out-of-pocket drug costs from January through December. There’s no cost to participate and no interest, but it doesn’t lower your drug costs.
Your plan renews your participation automatically each year unless you opt out or change plans. If you switch plans this fall, contact the new plan to sign up again. Medicare.gov says it tends to help most when your drug costs are high early in the year.
When will the 2027 Part B premium be announced?
Not yet. As of October 7, 2026, CMS had not published the 2027 Part B premium or deductible. Last year, CMS released the 2026 amounts on November 14, 2025: a $202.90 standard monthly premium and a $283 deductible. Our 2026 Medicare Part B premium page has the details, including income-based surcharges.
You keep paying the Part B premium even in a Medicare Advantage plan. Because most people have it deducted from their Social Security payment, it’s worth reading alongside our 2027 Social Security COLA page.
Start with your Annual Notice of Change
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall listing what changes in January. Federal rules require plans to send it so you receive it by September 30. If yours never arrived, call your plan.
Look for changes to the premium, deductible and copays, the formulary (the plan’s list of covered drugs) and which tier each of your drugs is on, the pharmacy and doctor networks, and, for Medicare Advantage, the yearly out-of-pocket limit.
How do you compare plans with Medicare Plan Finder?
Medicare Plan Finder compares plans in your area by premium, costs and benefits. Medicare.gov advises entering every drug you take regularly to get the most accurate yearly cost estimate for each plan. Add your preferred pharmacies, and ask your doctors whether they’re in each plan’s network.
CMS says this fall Plan Finder links to plan documents such as formularies and flags changes to your current plan for 2027. You can enroll through Plan Finder, by contacting the plan, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Where can you get free help?
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, personalized counseling, and Medicare.gov notes that SHIPs aren’t connected to any insurance company or plan. SHIPs help families too, which is useful if you’re helping a parent. You can also talk to Medicare by phone or chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays. If money is tight, ask about Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs.
Common Medicare open enrollment mistakes
- Assuming your plan stays the same. Premiums, covered drugs and networks can all change on January 1.
- Skipping the formulary check. The $2,400 cap counts spending on drugs your plan covers, so make sure each of your drugs is on the list.
- Ignoring networks. A preferred pharmacy or doctor in 2026 may be out of network in 2027.
- Comparing premiums only. A low premium can come with higher deductibles and copays.
- Dropping drug coverage. Going 63 or more days in a row without Part D or other creditable coverage can mean a late enrollment penalty added to your premium for as long as you have drug coverage.
- Waiting until December 7. Leave time to compare plans and get help.
Your open enrollment checklist
- Read your Annual Notice of Change.
- List every drug and dose you take, your pharmacies and your doctors.
- Run your list through Medicare Plan Finder for your current plan and a few alternatives.
- Confirm each drug is covered and your pharmacies and doctors are in network.
- Estimate your total 2027 costs, premiums included, and plug them into our budget calculator.
- Call your local SHIP if you’re unsure.
- Enroll by December 7 and keep the confirmation letter.
Frequently asked questions
When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027?
Medicare open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any plan you choose during that window starts on January 1, 2027, as long as the plan gets your request by December 7. The dates are the same every year. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get a second, more limited chance to make one change from January 1 to March 31.
Do I have to do anything during Medicare open enrollment if I like my plan?
No. CMS says people who want to keep their current Medicare coverage generally do not need to re-enroll. Even so, read the Annual Notice of Change your plan sent in September, because premiums, covered drugs, copays and networks can change on January 1. If the changes still work for you, you can stay put; if not, compare plans before December 7.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket maximum for 2027?
The Part D out-of-pocket maximum for 2027 is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026 and $2,000 in 2025. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,400, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of 2027. The cap applies to stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage. Your monthly premium is a separate cost.
What is the difference between Medicare open enrollment and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?
Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 and is open to everyone with Medicare for almost any change. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31, is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, and allows one change: switching to another Medicare Advantage plan, or dropping back to Original Medicare and joining a drug plan.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare during open enrollment?
Yes. You can leave a Medicare Advantage plan for Original Medicare during open enrollment, and you can join a stand-alone Part D drug plan at the same time. Be careful about supplemental coverage: outside your one-time Medigap open enrollment period, insurers can generally turn you down for a Medigap policy based on your health unless you have a guaranteed issue right or state protection.
What happens if I miss the December 7 Medicare deadline?
If you miss December 7, your current coverage generally continues into 2027. You can only join, switch or drop Medicare health and drug plans during set enrollment periods. People in Medicare Advantage can still make one change from January 1 to March 31, and anyone may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period after certain life events, such as moving or losing other coverage.