Medicare Enrollment Closes Dec. 7 for Plan Changes
Beneficiaries have until December 7 to review and change their Medicare coverage for next year as some insurers adjust benefits and costs.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Senior Health
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Medicare beneficiaries have until Dec. 7 to review and change their coverage for next year. Some insurance plans are changing benefits, raising costs, or discontinuing coverage.
Why it matters
Annual changes from insurers can alter the coverage and out-of-pocket costs that seniors depend on, and the open enrollment window is the only time many beneficiaries can switch plans. Acting before the deadline allows residents to avoid being locked into a plan that no longer fits their needs.
The governing deadline is Dec. 7 for open enrollment, the window for switching between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage or changing plans. Specific figures for how many beneficiaries are affected or the size of premium changes were not reported.
The players
New York State Senior Medicare Patrol
The state program that helps seniors identify and report Medicare fraud and offers free assistance with coverage questions.
StateWide Senior Action Council
A New York advocacy organization for older residents that provides free, unbiased counseling on Medicare plan choices.
The details
During open enrollment, beneficiaries can switch between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, and review prescription drug coverage. Free, unbiased counseling is available through the StateWide Senior Action Council and local offices for the aging, and Medicare does not endorse any single plan.
Timeline
Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment deadline for plan changes.
Next year: Coverage changes from insurers take effect.
Senior Health Landscape
Under the annual Medicare open enrollment cycle, beneficiaries can move between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage each fall. Insurers issue yearly notices of change, so the choices seniors made in prior years are not guaranteed to remain the best fit.
Reviewing your plan before Dec. 7 lets you compare changes to benefits, costs, and prescription coverage for the coming year. Compare options with 1-800-MEDICARE or Medicare.gov, and remember that Medicare and the IRS do not make unsolicited calls asking for personal information.
The takeaway
Compare your current plan against next year's notice of change before the deadline, since coverage that worked last year may not stay the same. Free counseling is available if you are unsure which option fits your needs.
What happens next
Medicare open enrollment closes Dec. 7, after which beneficiaries cannot change their plan until the next enrollment period.
Further reading
Explore more in Senior Health for guidance on navigating Medicare coverage choices.
More information
Call the New York State Senior Medicare Patrol line at 800-333-4374 for free help with Medicare questions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio Catskill.
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