Medicare Open Enrollment Runs Through Dec. 7
Beneficiaries can change Medicare Advantage, prescription drug plans, or switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage during the 2026 window.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Insurance
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Medicare's annual open enrollment period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, allowing beneficiaries to request coverage changes for 2027. Requests received by the deadline take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Why it matters
Premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket thresholds are set to change for 2027, making plan comparisons relevant for enrollees choosing coverage. Beneficiaries who miss the window may be stuck with their current plan for another year.
The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 monthly with a $283 annual deductible, and Original Medicare generally requires 20% coinsurance after the deductible. The stub does not address how these figures will change for 2027.
The players
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The federal agency that administers Medicare and announced the national 2027 premium projections for the program.
Medicare.gov
The official federal website where beneficiaries can compare Medicare plans and review coverage options.
The details
Beneficiaries can change Medicare Advantage plans, change prescription drug plans, or switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage during open enrollment. Returning to Original Medicare can require a separate prescription drug plan, and Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket ceiling without supplemental coverage.
Timeline
Sept. 28, 2026: CMS announced national 2027 premium projections.
Oct. 15, 2026: Medicare annual open enrollment period begins.
Dec. 7, 2026: Deadline for requesting 2027 coverage changes.
Jan. 1, 2027: Enrollment changes requested by the deadline take effect.
2027: Temporary Part D premium stabilization demonstration is scheduled to end.
Roadmap
The 2027 Part D out-of-pocket threshold of $2,400 and deductible of $700 continue the year-over-year increases built into the Part D benefit design. The temporary premium stabilization demonstration ending in 2027 marks a shift in how premium growth is being managed for enrollees.
Beneficiaries comparing plans should weigh the 2027 out-of-pocket threshold of $2,400 against their expected prescription costs before the Dec. 7 deadline. Anyone switching back to Original Medicare should confirm whether a separate prescription drug plan is needed.
The takeaway
Reviewing your Medicare plan before Dec. 7 can lock in coverage for 2027 with costs that reflect the higher thresholds taking effect. Waiting past the deadline means keeping your current plan until the next enrollment window.
What happens next
Enrollment requests must be received by Dec. 7, 2026 to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and the Part D premium stabilization demonstration is scheduled to end in 2027.
Further reading
Compare options in the Insurance section for more on how Medicare coverage fits into broader health coverage decisions.
More information
Use the Medicare.gov plan comparison tool to compare 2027 coverage options before the open enrollment deadline.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
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