If you’re on Medicare, your plan can change every January even if you change nothing. Open enrollment is the window each year to check what is coming and switch if it no longer fits. For 2027 coverage it runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not personalized insurance advice. We are not licensed insurance agents. Plans, prices and availability vary by county.
The Dates That Matter
| Window | Dates | Who it’s for | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Enrollment Period | October 15 – December 7 | Anyone with Medicare | January 1 of the next year |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31 | Only people already in a Medicare Advantage plan | First of the month after the plan gets your request |
Source: Medicare.gov, joining a plan. Medicare.gov notes the plan must receive your request by December 7 for a January 1 start.
What You Can Change
During the October 15 – December 7 window, Medicare.gov says you can:
- Join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage).
- Switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan.
- If you have Original Medicare, join, drop or switch a Medicare drug (Part D) plan.
The January 1 – March 31 Medicare Advantage window is narrower. It lets you switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or drop the plan, return to Original Medicare and join a separate drug plan. It does not let you move from Original Medicare into Medicare Advantage.
What KFF Found About 2027 Plan Options
KFF’s analysis of 2027 plan availability, published October 1, 2026, found (KFF):
| Measure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Average Medicare Advantage plans (with or without drug coverage) per beneficiary | 39 | 35 |
| Average Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage per beneficiary | 32 | 28 |
KFF reports the 2024 peak for plans with drug coverage was 36, and that 2027 is still above every year before 2021’s 27. It also found:
- 26 states and Puerto Rico have at least 20 such plans; Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio have at least 40.
- Nine states and D.C. have fewer than 10.
- Alaska had none in 2026 or 2027.
- The biggest drops were in Texas (−9), Illinois and Ohio (−8), and Minnesota, New Mexico and Washington (−7).
These are averages. Your county’s list is what counts, and a plan you like may be one that was dropped or changed.
A Checklist Before December 7
- Read your Annual Notice of Change. Plans must send it each fall. It lists next year’s premium, deductible, copays and drug list changes. This is the cheapest way to catch a surprise.
- Check your medications. Plans change which drugs they cover and at what tier. Compare your actual prescriptions, not just the premium, in the Medicare Plan Finder.
- Look past the premium. Compare the deductible, the maximum out-of-pocket, and what you’d pay for the care you actually use.
- Confirm your doctors and hospitals are in network for any Medicare Advantage plan. Network rules are the most common reason people switch back. Our explainer on why Medicare Advantage isn’t right for everyone covers the trade-offs, and HMO vs. PPO explains the network types.
- Know what you give up by switching. If you leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare after the window, buying a Medigap policy may involve medical underwriting in many states. Check your state’s rules before you drop a plan.
- Decide before the 7th. If you miss the window you generally can’t switch until next year, with limited exceptions, though people already in Medicare Advantage get the January–March window above.
If You’re Comparing Medicare Advantage Carriers
Our Humana Medicare Advantage guide walks through one carrier’s plan types. We haven’t assigned Nerd Scores to Medicare plans, because the inputs vary by county and plan, so use the plan finder and your own notice as the source of truth.
Bottom Line
Open enrollment closes December 7. Medicare Advantage options fell on average for 2027 according to KFF, so don’t assume your plan, doctors or drugs carry over unchanged. Read your notice, price your prescriptions, and for personal guidance use your state’s SHIP counselor or Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.