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In short When it is, and who it is for What you can change What to compare before you switch If money is tight If you miss December 7 Common questions SourcesIf you already have Medicare, Open Enrollment from October 15 to December 7 is your once-a-year chance to change how you get coverage for next year. Changes take effect January 1. Other windows exist for specific situations: a Special Enrollment Period after qualifying life events like losing other coverage or moving, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment from January 1 to March 31 if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan. Even if you like your plan, check it: premiums, drug lists and doctor networks can change every January.
When it is, and who it is for
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 every year, according to Medicare.gov. It is for people who already have Medicare and want to change their coverage for the coming year. Your plan must receive your request by December 7, and the new coverage starts January 1.
If you are signing up for Medicare for the first time, different windows apply. Our guide on signing up for Medicare covers those.
What you can change
During Open Enrollment you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around. You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, with or without drug coverage. And you can join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
If you switch to Original Medicare, you may need a separate drug plan, and you may want to look at Medicare Supplement Insurance, called Medigap. Medigap has its own enrollment rules and limits on when you can buy it.
What to compare before you switch
Plans send an Annual Notice of Change each fall that lists what is different next year. Read it before deciding to stay put. Then compare, for each plan you are considering: the monthly premium, the deductible, whether your specific medications are on the plan’s drug list and at what cost, whether your doctors and hospitals are in the plan’s network, and the most you could pay out of pocket in a year.
For context, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026 and the Part B deductible is $283, per CMS. People with higher incomes pay more for Part B.
If money is tight
If the premiums or drug costs are hard to cover, two programs can lower them. Medicare Savings Programs, run through your state Medicaid office, can help pay Part B premiums and other costs. Extra Help, a federal program, lowers Part D drug costs. Medicare.gov has eligibility information for both, and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free local counseling.
If you miss December 7
If you do nothing, your current coverage generally continues next year, with any changes your plan announced. Other enrollment windows exist for specific situations: a General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 for people signing up for Part B late, and Special Enrollment Periods after certain life events, such as moving or losing other coverage.
- Medicare.gov - Open Enrollment
- CMS - 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles
- Medicare.gov - When can I sign up for Medicare?
Common questions
Do I have to do anything if I want to keep my plan?
No. If you take no action, your current coverage generally continues. Still read the Annual Notice of Change, because your plan’s costs, drug list and network can change on January 1.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare?
Yes. Open Enrollment is one of the times you can do that. If you switch, you may need to add a Part D drug plan, and Medigap coverage has separate rules about when you can buy it.
Is Open Enrollment the same as the Marketplace open enrollment?
No. Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) is for people on Medicare. Marketplace open enrollment is for people buying individual coverage, usually under 65. They are separate systems with separate dates.
Can Pymander help me pick a Medicare plan?
Pymander is not an insurance broker and does not enroll anyone in coverage. It can answer everyday health questions and help you think through what to ask when comparing plans. Pymander is available in all 50 states.