Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15: what to review before you pick 2027 coverage

Medicare's annual open enrollment period begins Thursday, Oct. 15, and runs through Monday, Dec. 7, 2026. During that window, people with Medicare can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D drug plan, or move back to Original Medicare, for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2027. People who are satisfied with their current coverage generally do not need to re-enroll; it continues automatically.

Plans can change premiums, drug lists, cost sharing and provider networks every year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says that because costs and benefits change, beneficiaries should review their current coverage and compare options for 2027. Here is what to look at, and which 2027 numbers are already known.

Start with the Annual Notice of Change

If you are in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, the plan sends a Plan Annual Notice of Change each fall, typically in September. It lists changes in coverage, costs and other features that take effect in January. If you did not receive one, Medicare.gov says to contact your plan. A plan that is leaving Medicare altogether sends a separate non-renewal notice, usually in October.

When you read the notice, check:

• The monthly premium and the yearly deductible
• Copays or coinsurance for the drugs you take and the services you use most
• Whether each of your drugs is still on the plan's formulary, and on which tier
• Whether your doctors, hospitals and preferred pharmacies are still in the network
• Any changes to extra benefits you rely on, such as dental, vision or hearing coverage

What is already set for 2027

CMS has published several 2027 figures. The first two are limits written into the standard Part D benefit; the premium figures are national projections, and your plan's actual premium may be higher or lower.

The out-of-pocket threshold matters most for people with high drug costs. According to Medicare.gov, once your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches the threshold, you enter the catastrophic coverage stage and pay nothing out of pocket for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year. In 2027 that point is $2,400. CMS set both the threshold and the deductible limit in its CY 2027 Rate Announcement in April.

CMS also said a temporary Part D premium stabilization demonstration is being discontinued in 2027. That is one more reason to confirm your own plan's premium in the notice rather than assume it is unchanged.

Other changes listed in Medicare's "Your Medicare in 2027" fact sheet include negotiated prices for 15 more Part D drugs taking effect Jan. 1, 2027, and telehealth services available at any location in the U.S., including at home, through Dec. 31, 2027. Contact your plan to see how the negotiated prices might affect what you pay.

What is not announced yet

The 2027 Medicare Part B premium and deductible had not been released as of Oct. 12. For comparison, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026 and the Part B deductible is $283, according to CMS. CMS released the 2026 amounts on Nov. 14, 2025. The Part B premium is separate from any premium your Medicare Advantage or drug plan charges.

How to use the Medicare Plan Finder

The official comparison tool is at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. Medicare says it lets you compare plans side by side, estimate your total out-of-pocket costs, see quality and customer service ratings, get costs based on your pharmacies and prescriptions, and check whether your doctors are in a plan's network.

1. Enter every drug you take, with the exact dose and how often you fill it, so the cost estimates reflect your actual prescriptions.
2. Add the pharmacies you use, so the tool can show coverage and cost information for those pharmacies.
3. Search for your doctors and hospitals if you are considering Medicare Advantage, and confirm with the provider's office before you enroll.
4. Compare total yearly cost, not just the premium. A low premium can come with a higher deductible or higher copays.
5. Check star ratings. CMS published the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings on the Plan Finder on Oct. 8.

CMS says users can now sign in to Medicare accounts with Login.gov, ID.me or CLEAR, and that starting in October the site shows messages about changes affecting a person's current plan in 2027.

Cautions before you switch

• Medigap. If you have a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy and drop it to join a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare warns you may not be able to get the same Medigap policy back later, depending on your state's rules and your situation.
• Deadline. A plan must receive your enrollment form by Dec. 7.
• Second chance for Medicare Advantage members. From Jan. 1 to March 31, people in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or to Original Medicare, with the option to join a separate drug plan.
• Marketing mail. Medicare notes you may get a lot of mail from companies selling Medicare products, and that Medicare.gov, the "Medicare & You" handbook and 1-800-MEDICARE are the official sources of unbiased information.

Where to get help

You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week; TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free counseling; find it at shiphelp.org. People with limited income and resources may qualify for Extra Help with drug costs or a Medicare Savings Program that helps pay premiums.

This article is general information, not personal advice. Check your plan documents and Medicare.gov, or talk with a counselor, before making changes that fit your own health needs and budget.