Medicare Open Enrollment: What You Can Change Before December 7

Medicare Open Enrollment is a time to compare how your current coverage will work next year. A useful review starts with your own providers, prescriptions and plan notices, rather than a benefit mentioned in an advertisement.

The 2026 dates and the coverage year

Medicare's annual Open Enrollment runs October 15–December 7, 2026. Changes made during this period generally take effect January 1, 2027, provided the plan receives the enrollment request by December 7. This is different from your first opportunity to enroll in Medicare when you become eligible.

What changes are available?

During annual Open Enrollment, eligible people can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, switch Medicare Advantage plans, or join, drop or change a Medicare drug plan. The appropriate combination depends on the coverage you already have. Before making changes, check how employer, retiree or other existing benefits would be affected.

Build a review worksheet before comparing

Keep one page for your providers

List your primary doctor, specialists and preferred hospitals. Record each office's location. When discussing a Medicare Advantage option, ask about the exact plan and network for the upcoming year and note who confirmed the answer and when.

Keep another page for prescriptions

Write down medication names, dosages, frequency and your pharmacy. Use that same list for every comparison. A different pharmacy or an omitted medication can make two estimates hard to compare.

Read your current plan's notices

Highlight anything you want explained in the Annual Notice of Change and other renewal documents: premium, covered services, prescription costs or network changes. Bring those questions to your review rather than relying on memory of last year's benefits.

Compare costs over a year

Ask for an explanation of what you pay each month and what you pay when receiving care. Use a simple worksheet with columns for routine visits, specialist visits, prescriptions and a higher-use year. Do not treat an advertised plan premium as the complete cost of coverage.

Medigap is a separate decision

The October–December Medicare window is not an annual guaranteed opportunity to buy any Medicare Supplement policy. Medicare describes a separate, generally one-time six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period tied to being 65 or older and having Part B. Outside protected enrollment situations, availability and pricing may differ. Verify Medigap eligibility before leaving a plan in anticipation of buying a supplement.

What about January through March?

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is January 1–March 31 for people already in Medicare Advantage. It allows certain changes, including returning to Original Medicare. It is not an unrestricted opportunity for everyone to join Medicare Advantage from Original Medicare.

Before submitting a change

Save the exact plan identifier, confirmation number and expected start date. Confirm how any separate drug coverage fits your selection. Keep existing coverage until the transition is clear, and contact the insurer or Medicare if a confirmation does not match what you requested.

Frequently asked questions

Continue your research

• Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare: How to Compare Your Options
• Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement: What Is the Difference?
• Turning 65? A Simple Guide to Medicare Enrollment
• PureShield health insurance help

Official sources

• Medicare plan enrollment periods
• Medigap basics
• Medicare Plan Finder

Information checked October 6, 2026. Enrollment rules and plan details can change; confirm the guidance that applies before taking action. PureShield Insurance is an independent insurance agency, not Medicare, CMS, HealthCare.gov or a government agency, and is not endorsed by the federal government.