Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: October 15 – December 7
For 2026, the CMS press release dated September 28, 2026 says “Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2026, and ends December 7, 2026.” Medicare.gov says changes made during Open Enrollment “are effective January 1 of next year (the plan must get your enrollment request by December 7).”
Reviewed November 2, 2026. When we checked on November 2, 2026, the pages listed under Sources showed the dates and rules quoted here. Text in quotation marks is copied from those pages; everything else on this page is our reading or our arithmetic.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Sources checked against Medicare.gov, CMS and HealthCare.gov text on November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Open Enrollment, as the sources word it
“Open Enrollment happens from October 15 – December 7 and is the time each year when you can make changes to your coverage.”
“The changes you make during Open Enrollment are effective January 1 of next year (the plan must get your enrollment request by December 7).”
“Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2026, and ends December 7, 2026.”
Medicare enrollment periods and what each allows
| Period | Dates | Who it is for | What can change | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. | Generally when you turn 65. | You can join any plan, but you need: Both Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage. Either Part A or Part B to join a Medicare drug plan. | If you request to join a plan before your Part A and/or Part B starts: Your plan coverage starts the same day as when your Part A and/or Part B starts. If you request to join a plan after your Part A and/or Part B starts: Your plan coverage starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request. |
| Open Enrollment Period | October 15-December 7 | During Open Enrollment what you can do depends on the kind of coverage you have now. | Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage). Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare. Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare. | January 1 of the next year (the plan must get your request to join by December 7) |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1-March 31 or Within the first 3 months you get Medicare | (only if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan) | Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage. Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. You'll also be able to join a separate Medicare drug plan. During this period, you can’t: • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. • Join a separate Medicare drug plan if you have Original Medicare. • Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another if you have Original Medicare. You can only make one change during this period, and any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request. | First of the month after the plan gets your request to join. |
| Special Enrollment Period | Varies. | Only for certain situations that happen in your life, like moving to a new address, losing or changing your current coverage, getting Medicaid, or getting Extra Help to pay drug costs. | Depending on your situation: Join a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or Medicare drug plan Switch to another plan | Varies. Generally, the first of the month after the plan gets your request to join. |
| 5-star Special Enrollment Period | You can use this Special Enrollment Period only once between December 8 and November 30 the following year. | If a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare drug plan, or Medicare Cost Plan with a 5-star rating is available in your area, you can use the 5-star Special Enrollment Period to switch from your current Medicare plan to a Medicare plan with a "5-star" quality rating. | Join a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Cost Plan, or Medicare drug plan with an overall quality rating of 5 stars. If you move from a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes prescription drug coverage to a stand-alone Medicare drug plan, you’ll be disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage Plan, including the health benefit. You’ll be returned to Original Medicare for coverage of your health services. You can only switch to a 5-star Medicare drug plan if one is available in your area. If you move from a Medicare Advantage Plan that has drug coverage to a 5‑star Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t have drug coverage, you may lose your prescription drug coverage. | When we checked on November 2, 2026, no coverage start date was stated for this period on the Medicare.gov Special Enrollment Periods page or in Medicare & You 2027 (page 76). |
| General Enrollment Period (Part A and Part B sign-up) | Between January 1-March 31 each year (General Enrollment Period) | If you miss your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. | You can sign up between January 1-March 31 each year. This is called the General Enrollment Period. Note: If you have to pay for Part A and you sign up for Part B during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage or a Medicare drug plan. If you don’t get Part A and only signed up for Part B, you can join a Medicare drug plan. You’ll have 2 months after signing up for Part B to join a drug plan. | Part A and Part B coverage: Your coverage starts the month after you sign up. Drug coverage, per Medicare & You 2027 (page 84): Your drug coverage will start the month after the plan gets your request to join. |
Every cell is text copied from the source named below; “[…]” marks text left out.
Medicare.gov's page on signing up for Part A and Part B lists, among situations that don't qualify for a Part A and Part B Special Enrollment Period:
“Situations that don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period: […] You have or lose your Marketplace coverage.”
- Initial Enrollment Period: Medicare.gov Joining a plan page
- Open Enrollment Period: Medicare.gov Joining a plan page; Medicare.gov Open Enrollment page
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Medicare.gov Joining a plan page; Medicare & You 2027 handbook
- Special Enrollment Period: Medicare.gov Joining a plan page
- 5-star Special Enrollment Period: Medicare.gov Special Enrollment Periods page
- General Enrollment Period (Part A and Part B sign-up): Medicare.gov "When does Medicare coverage start?" page; Medicare & You 2027 handbook
Which periods contain a date
This helper covers three of the table's periods: the Open Enrollment Period, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period and the General Enrollment Period. The Initial, Special and 5-star Special Enrollment Periods depend on the person and are not computed. Enter a date to see which of the three contain it. This is arithmetic from the dates quoted in the table, counted in calendar days, not a statement about anyone's eligibility. The page does not read the date until you enter it.
Pick a date to see which of these three periods contain it.
2026 to 2027 checklist: what the sources point to comparing
The Medicare & You 2027 handbook (page 13) and the CMS press release both point to comparing 2026 coverage with 2027 options:
“Start comparing your current Medicare health or drug coverage with options for 2027 before Open Enrollment starts. You may be able to save money or get extra benefits.”
Medicare & You 2027 (Medicare.gov PDF) “Because plan costs and benefits can change from year to year, CMS encourages beneficiaries to review their current coverage and compare their options for 2027.”
CMS press release, September 28, 2026 Medicare.gov’s steps for joining a plan list these items to look at:
“Review costs, like monthly premiums, deductibles, and the estimate of your yearly costs for drugs you take.”
Medicare.gov: Joining a plan “Check if the plan covers your prescriptions and includes the benefits you need.”
Medicare.gov: Joining a plan “Ask your doctors and pharmacies if they’re in network with the plan.”
Medicare.gov: Joining a plan Part D standard benefit for 2027: deductible $700 and out-of-pocket threshold $2,400, as shown on our Medicare Part D 2027 page (which cites the CMS CY 2027 Rate Announcement). Medicare & You 2027 says, on pages 86 and 87:
“If your plan has a deductible for drug coverage, it will be no more than $700 in 2027.”
Medicare & You 2027 (Medicare.gov PDF) “In 2027, your out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs are capped at $2,400.”
Medicare & You 2027 (Medicare.gov PDF) Part B premium, Part B deductible and income-related (IRMAA) amounts for 2026 and 2027 are on these pages, each marked as official or as a projection with its source:
What the Medicare & You 2027 handbook says about January 1, 2027:
“New coverage begins if you made a change. If you kept your existing coverage and your plan’s costs or benefits changed, those changes also start. (Contact your plan if these changes don’t appear in your account within 10 days of making them.)”
Medicare & You 2027 (Medicare.gov PDF) “People who want to keep their current Medicare coverage generally do not need to re-enroll.”
CMS press release, September 28, 2026 CMS lists these programs for people with limited income and resources:
“Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) may help pay Medicare premiums and may also pay deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for eligible individuals.”
CMS press release, September 28, 2026 “Extra Help is a Medicare program that helps qualifying individuals pay Part D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs.”
CMS press release, September 28, 2026 On Medicare.gov’s Open Enrollment page, about moving to Original Medicare:
“If you switch to Original Medicare, you may need to join a separate drug plan and may want to add Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private health insurance company to help pay your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare. There are limits on when you can add it.”
Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment Medicare late enrollment penalty calculator · Medicare vs Medicaid
Federal employee and military coverage have their own open seasons and Medicare rules:
FEHB open season 2026 · TRICARE open season 2026 · TRICARE For Life
Marketplace (ACA) open enrollment for 2027 coverage
This section is about Health Insurance Marketplace coverage, which is not Medicare coverage. When we checked on November 2, 2026, HealthCare.gov listed the dates below. Its banner said:
“Fill out an application, compare plans, and enroll in 2027 health coverage. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.”
“November 1: Open Enrollment starts — first day you can enroll in, renew, or change health plans through the Marketplace for the coming year. Coverage can start as soon as January 1.”
“December 15: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1.”
“January 1: Coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans by December 15 and pay their first premium.”
“January 15: Open Enrollment ends — last day to enroll in or change Marketplace health plans for the year. After this date, you can enroll in or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.”
“February 1: Coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans December 16 through January 15 and pay their first premium.”
“How you apply depends on if your state has its own Marketplace.”
“Starting November 1, Oregon residents will use ExploreHealthOR.gov to enroll in 2027 coverage.”
HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines · The Marketplace in your state
What the sources leave open
- The Medicare.gov Special Enrollment Periods page words the 5-star window twice: “You can use this Special Enrollment Period only once between December 8 and November 30 the following year.” and “One time between December 8 of the year before the plan year and November 30 of the plan year.” This page shows both and does not choose between them.
- When we checked on November 2, 2026, neither the Medicare.gov Special Enrollment Periods page nor Medicare & You 2027 (page 76) gave a coverage start date for the 5-star Special Enrollment Period, so the table says that instead of borrowing the general Special Enrollment Period row.
- When we checked on November 2, 2026, the HealthCare.gov "When can you get health insurance?" page did not say whether Marketplaces run by states use different dates. The HealthCare.gov "The Marketplace in your state" page says “How you apply depends on if your state has its own Marketplace.”
- The CMS press release of September 28, 2026 gives 2027 average plan premiums for Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans; this page does not repeat them; they appear in that release.
- The table is not every period or situation: the Medicare.gov Special Enrollment Periods page lists more situations than the two Special Enrollment Period rows shown, and the Medicare.gov "When does Medicare coverage start?" page lists Special Enrollment Periods for Part A and Part B sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2026?
Medicare.gov says Open Enrollment “happens from October 15 – December 7”. The CMS press release of September 28, 2026 says “Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2026, and ends December 7, 2026.”
When do changes made during Open Enrollment take effect?
Medicare.gov says the changes “are effective January 1 of next year (the plan must get your enrollment request by December 7).” The Medicare & You 2027 handbook says: “Your coverage starts on January 1 (as long as the plan gets your enrollment request by December 7).”
What can people change during Open Enrollment?
Medicare.gov says it “depends on the kind of coverage you have now”. Its three options are: “Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage).” “Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare.” “Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.”
What is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31)?
Medicare.gov lists it as “January 1-March 31” and “(only if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan)”. The Medicare & You 2027 handbook says it applies to “If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage)” and that “You can only make one change during this period”. The handbook also lists what cannot be done: “Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.” “Join a separate Medicare drug plan if you have Original Medicare.” “Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another if you have Original Medicare.”
Can Medicare plans be changed after December 7?
Medicare.gov says “You can only join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) with or without drug coverage, other Medicare health plan, or Medicare drug plan at certain times, called enrollment periods.” Medicare.gov lists the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period as “January 1-March 31” and “(only if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan)”, and describes Special Enrollment Periods as “Only for certain situations”.
Do people who keep their current coverage need to re-enroll?
CMS says “People who want to keep their current Medicare coverage generally do not need to re-enroll.” The Medicare & You 2027 handbook says: “If you kept your existing coverage and your plan’s costs or benefits changed, those changes also start.”
Is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period the same as Open Enrollment?
Medicare.gov’s Open Enrollment page, Joining a plan page, Special Enrollment Periods page and When does Medicare coverage start? page, the CMS press release of September 28, 2026, and the Medicare & You 2027 handbook call the October 15 to December 7 period “Open Enrollment” or “Open Enrollment Period”, and none of them uses the phrase "Annual Enrollment Period" (the handbook was searched in full, all 128 pages). Those documents do not say how that phrase is used elsewhere.
Are the Marketplace (ACA) open enrollment dates the same as Medicare Open Enrollment?
The sources give different dates. Medicare.gov gives October 15 – December 7. When we checked on November 2, 2026, HealthCare.gov's dates page gave “Open Enrollment starts” on November 1 and “Open Enrollment ends” on January 15 for coverage in 2027, with “December 15: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1.” HealthCare.gov's Marketplace-in-your-state page says “How you apply depends on if your state has its own Marketplace.” Marketplace coverage is not Medicare coverage.
Sources
Checked November 2, 2026: Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment · Medicare.gov: Joining a plan · Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods · Medicare.gov: When does Medicare coverage start? · Medicare & You 2027 (Medicare.gov PDF) · CMS press release, September 28, 2026 · HealthCare.gov: When can you get health insurance? · HealthCare.gov: The Marketplace in your state
The Medicare & You 2027 text comes from pages 13, 75, 76, 84, 85, 86 and 87 of the handbook PDF on Medicare.gov; the CMS press release is dated September 28, 2026.