Health
Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Costs and What to Check
Short answer
Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and changes start January 1, 2027. You can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage and change drug plans. For comparison, the 2026 Part B premium is $202.90; the 2027 premium is projected at $209.50 but not yet official.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mid-fall | Plans mail their Annual Notice of Change; CMS announces 2027 Part B premium and IRMAA brackets |
| October 15, 2026 | Open enrollment begins and plan information goes live on Medicare.gov |
| December 7, 2026 | Open enrollment ends |
| January 1, 2027 | New coverage starts |
| January 1 – March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage open enrollment (switch only if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan) |
What you can do
- Switch plan types. Move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage or back.
- Change Medicare Advantage plans. Compare premiums, networks, copays and the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.
- Join, drop or change a Part D plan. Re-check your drug list every year; formularies and prices shift.
- Medigap. Not tied to this window. Rules about health questions depend on your state and timing.
2026 costs you can compare against
| Item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Part B standard premium | $202.90 / month |
| Part B deductible | $283 |
| Part A deductible (per benefit period) | $1,736 |
| Part A premium if you owe one | $311 – $565 / month |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 / year |
| IRMAA starts above (2024 income) | $109,000 single / $218,000 joint |
2027 premiums and IRMAA brackets will be based on your 2025 tax return. If your income dropped sharply (retirement, for example), you can ask Social Security for a new determination.
A 10-minute checklist
- Read the Annual Notice of Change your plan mailed. Look for changes in premium, deductible, drug tiers and network.
- Use the Medicare Plan Finder with your exact drug list and pharmacy.
- Check whether your doctors and hospital are still in network (Medicare Advantage).
- Compare the plan’s maximum out-of-pocket cost, not only the premium.
- If you take Social Security, estimate your net raise after the Part B increase with our guide.
- Check whether your income pushes you into an IRMAA bracket with the Medicare calculator.
- If you are still working and have an HSA, remember contributions stop when Medicare coverage starts (HSA rules).
New to Medicare? Start with when you become eligible.
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Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The annual enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
You can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or back, change Medicare Advantage plans, and join, drop or change a Part D prescription drug plan. Medigap (supplement) rules differ: you can usually buy it any time, but outside your first six months of Part B insurers in most states can use medical underwriting.
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, a separate Medicare Advantage open enrollment period runs January 1 to March 31. You can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare during it, but you cannot join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the annual deductible is $283. The Part A deductible per benefit period is $1,736. Part A is premium-free for most people with 40 work credits.
The Medicare Trustees projected $209.50 a month for 2027. That is a projection. CMS announces the official premium and the income-related brackets in the fall.
For 2026 the annual cap on out-of-pocket drug spending in Part D is $2,100. Check each plan's formulary and your pharmacy each year, because plans change which drugs they cover and their cost-sharing.