Medicare Annual Enrollment Period 2027: Dates, What You Can Change, and How to Review Your Plan

Updated October 12, 2026

The short answer

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. During AEP you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan, or return to Original Medicare. Changes generally take effect January 1, 2027. You do not have to change plans if your current coverage still fits. Not sure yours still fits? Book a no-cost 30-minute Stay-or-Switch Review with a licensed agent based in Tampa, FL, or call (813) 544-7066.

This page explains the dates and what you can change. It also shows an easy way to review your plan.

A few terms we use:

  • Original Medicare is Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), run by the federal government.
  • Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) is a plan from a private insurance company that is approved by Medicare. It covers your Part A and Part B benefits in one plan, and many include drug coverage.
  • Part D is prescription drug coverage. You can get it as a stand-alone drug plan with Original Medicare, or as part of many Medicare Advantage plans.
  • AEP stands for Annual Enrollment Period. Medicare calls it "Open Enrollment." They mean the same fall window.

When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2027?

What are the exact AEP dates in 2026?

The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage is October 15 through December 7, 2026.

Your plan must get your enrollment request by December 7.

When do AEP changes take effect?

Changes you make during AEP generally start on January 1, 2027.

When should I start comparing 2027 plans?

Medicare suggests you start comparing plans for next year around October 1, 2026. That is before Open Enrollment opens on October 15.

Your plan also sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) explaining what changes next year. More on that below.

Want a second set of eyes? Book a no-cost 30-minute review or call (813) 544-7066.

For a wider look at every Medicare enrollment window, see Medicare enrollment periods explained.

What can I change during Medicare Open Enrollment?

During AEP, you can make these kinds of changes.

Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans?

Yes. You can join a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or drop your Medicare Advantage plan.

Plans and networks vary by county and ZIP code. The only way to know which plans are available where you live is to check by ZIP code on Medicare.gov Plan Compare or in a licensed review.

Can I go from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare?

Yes. AEP is one of the times you can leave a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.

If you do this, think about two things:

  1. Drug coverage. You may want to join a stand-alone Part D plan at the same time.
  2. Medigap. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy helps pay some of the costs Original Medicare does not cover. Moving back to Original Medicare during AEP does not by itself give you a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap policy. See the next section.

Can I join, switch, or drop a Part D plan?

Yes. During AEP you can join a Part D drug plan, switch to a different one, or drop your drug coverage.

What if I am on Original Medicare with only Part D?

You can use AEP to switch to a different stand-alone Part D plan. You can also use it to join a Medicare Advantage plan if that fits your needs better. A good first step is to read your drug plan's changes for 2027 and decide whether it still works for you.

What can I not do during AEP?

Can I buy or switch a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy during Open Enrollment?

Many people mix these up. The fall Open Enrollment Period is for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. It is not a guaranteed shopping window for Medigap.

Medigap has its own open enrollment period. It lasts 6 months and starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.

Outside that window, and outside other guaranteed-issue situations, insurers may use medical underwriting. That means they can look at your health history when deciding whether to sell you a policy and at what price.

Florida note: Florida does not have a Medigap "birthday rule" that gives a yearly window to switch policies. Florida also has its own Medigap rules, including rules for people under 65 with a disability. The Florida Department of Financial Services explains these on its Medicare Supplement overview page.

If you are thinking about changing Medigap policies, check Medicare's rules for changing Medigap policies and your state's rules first. For a side-by-side look at the two paths, see Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage and our Medicare Supplement page.

Is AEP the same as my Initial Enrollment Period for Part A/B?

No. AEP is for people who already have Medicare and want to change their Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage.

Signing up for Part A and Part B for the first time happens during a different window, usually around when you turn 65. That is your Initial Enrollment Period. Our Medicare enrollment timeline explains when you can sign up and when coverage starts.

What is the difference between AEP and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP)?

These two windows sound alike, but they work differently.

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

  • October 15 through December 7, 2026.
  • Open to people with Medicare Advantage, Part D, or Original Medicare.
  • You can make the full range of changes described above.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP)

  • January 1 through March 31, 2027.
  • Only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
  • You can make one change: switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare (with the option to add a Part D plan).
  • If you are on Original Medicare, you cannot use this window to newly join Medicare Advantage the way you can during AEP.

What should I review before I switch, or stay?

A review does not always mean you switch. Sometimes your plan is still the right one. Medicare's Your Yearly Medicare Review guide is a helpful companion to the checklist below.

How do I read my Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)?

Your ANOC lists what is changing in your plan for 2027. Look for:

  • Monthly plan premium. Did it go up, go down, or stay the same?
  • Deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. These are the amounts you pay when you get care or fill a prescription.
  • Out-of-pocket maximum (for Medicare Advantage). This is the most you would pay for covered in-network medical care in a year.
  • Drug list (formulary). Are your medicines still covered? Did any move to a different cost tier?
  • Network. Are your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacy still in the plan?

What about doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies for 2027?

Networks can change from one year to the next. A doctor or hospital that works with your plan this year may not for 2027.

Check your plan's 2027 provider directory, and call your doctor's office and pharmacy to confirm.

If you live in the Tampa Bay area, our guide to Tampa Bay Medicare hospital networks explains how to check this.

How do drug list and Part D costs change for 2027?

A few federal Part D rules for 2027 are worth knowing:

  • Out-of-pocket threshold: $2,400. In 2027, once your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs reach $2,400, you generally pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of that year.
  • Deductible: up to $700. The 2027 Part D deductible can be up to $700. Plans may set a lower amount.
  • Negotiated drug prices. Medicare negotiated prices for 15 drugs, and those prices take effect January 1, 2027. You should still check whether your plan covers your drug, at what tier, and at which pharmacies.
  • Drug plan premiums may move. A federal program that helped steady stand-alone Part D plan premiums (the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration) ends after 2026. That means stand-alone drug plan premiums for 2027 may change more than usual. Check your plan's actual 2027 premium in your ANOC or on Plan Compare.

Your 2027 drug costs depend on your plan, drugs, and pharmacy. Plan premiums vary by plan and county, so we do not list them here.

Our prescription drugs page has more on Part D.

What about the Part B premium for 2027? You generally still pay the monthly Part B premium, even if you are in a Medicare Advantage plan. CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.

  • 2027 Part B standard premium: CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.
  • 2027 Part B deductible: CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.
  • 2027 Part A deductible: CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.
  • 2027 income-related amounts (IRMAA): CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.

Looking for this year's numbers? See our page on Medicare 2026 changes. Those are 2026 figures, not 2027.

Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket limits. For 2027, federal rules cap how high a Medicare Advantage plan can set its yearly out-of-pocket maximum. The ceiling is up to $9,850 for in-network services and up to $14,800 for combined in-network and out-of-network services. These are upper limits. Plans may set lower limits.

Source: CMS, April 2026

Star ratings. Medicare publishes star ratings for plans. Star ratings are one tool, not the whole picture. Always confirm your doctors and drugs too.

What if my plan is leaving Medicare or exiting my county?

Sometimes a plan will not be offered in your area next year. If that happens, your plan should send you a notice.

If you get this notice, you can choose a new plan during AEP. You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, a window outside the usual dates that opens when certain life events happen. We can confirm the exact dates that apply to you.

What happens if I miss December 7?

If you miss the December 7 deadline, you may still have options.

  • If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31) to make one change.
  • If you have a qualifying event, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Medicare sets the situations that count.
  • Otherwise, you generally wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period in the fall.

Not sure which applies to you? Call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or talk with a licensed advisor.

How AdviseCare helps during AEP (Stay-or-Switch)

Every fall we offer a Stay-or-Switch Review. It is a no-cost conversation about whether your plan still fits for 2027.

Here is how it works:

  • We start with you. We ask about your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, pharmacy and budget.
  • We read your ANOC with you and check what changed for 2027.
  • We compare plans we offer in your area against what matters to you.
  • Sometimes the answer is to stay put. If your plan still fits, we will tell you.

Open Book. Here is how we work. Our help is no-cost to you. If you enroll in a plan through us, the insurance company may pay us. We do not offer every plan available in your area. You can read more on our methodology page.

Aftercare. Our help does not stop once you enroll. We will review your plan with you again each year.

Medicare OS. Our Medicare OS portal is one place to check your doctors and drugs, look at plans and get ready for your review.

Helping a parent? Adult children and caregivers are welcome to join the review with their parent's permission.

Ready to review your 2027 coverage?

Book your no-cost 30-minute Stay-or-Switch Review by phone or video with a licensed agent based in Tampa, FL. No pressure: sometimes the answer is to stay put. Or call (813) 544-7066.

Prefer to start on your own? Try our doctor and drug check or Plan Finder first. You can also learn more about Medicare plan help in Florida, read how to choose a Medicare advisor in Tampa Bay, or browse our FAQs. For more on each plan type, see Medicare Advantage.

Free, unbiased counseling is also available. Florida's SHINE program offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Visit floridashine.org or call 1-800-963-5337.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027?

October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes usually start January 1, 2027.

Do I have to change my Medicare plan during AEP?

No. If your 2027 benefits, network, and costs still fit after you read your ANOC, you can stay. Coverage typically continues automatically.

What can I change during the Annual Enrollment Period?

You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan. You can join, switch, or drop a Part D plan. Or you can switch between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare. If you move to Original Medicare, think about drug coverage and Medigap.

Can I switch Medigap plans during Medicare Open Enrollment?

Generally, fall Open Enrollment is not a guaranteed Medigap shopping window. Medigap has its own open enrollment period and state rules. In Florida, insurers often use medical underwriting outside guaranteed-issue windows.

What is the difference between AEP and MA-OEP?

AEP (October 15 through December 7) is the broad fall window. MA-OEP (January 1 through March 31) lets people already in a Medicare Advantage plan make one change, either to another Medicare Advantage plan or to Original Medicare, with the option to add a Part D plan.

What happens if I miss December 7?

You may have limited options through MA-OEP if you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, or through a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify. Otherwise, you generally wait until the next AEP.

When can I compare 2027 plans?

2027 plan details are typically available around October 1, before Open Enrollment begins. You can compare your plans here with us. Book a no-cost 30-minute review or call (813) 544-7066.

Does it cost anything to get an AdviseCare AEP review?

No. AdviseCare's Medicare guidance is no-cost to you. Insurance companies may pay the agency if you enroll through them. AdviseCare does not offer every plan in your area.

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