Blog · Medicare
Medicare Annual Enrollment 2026: what to check before December 7
Short answer: Medicare's Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027. During this window you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. It is not a switching window for Medigap. Before you decide, read your plan's Annual Notice of Change and check your doctors, drugs and pharmacy against next year's plan.
Plans can change their costs, networks and drug lists every year. If you do nothing, you usually stay in the same plan for 2027, even if it no longer fits. Here is the checklist we use with clients before the December 7 deadline.
What can I change during Medicare Open Enrollment?
According to Medicare.gov, from October 15 to December 7 you can:
- Join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage plans, with or without drug coverage.
- Add or drop drug coverage on a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
- Join, drop or switch a Part D drug plan if you have Original Medicare.
The plan must get your enrollment request by December 7 for the change to start on January 1. See Medicare.gov: joining a plan.
| Window | Dates | What you can do | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Enrollment Period | Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026 | Join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage or Part D; move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage | January 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2027 | If you're in Medicare Advantage: switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare and join a separate drug plan | First of the month after the plan gets your request |
Does Open Enrollment let me change my Medigap plan?
No. Open Enrollment covers Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies follow their own rules. Under federal law, your main guaranteed window to buy Medigap is the 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Outside of that, and outside certain guaranteed issue situations, Medicare.gov says you generally don't have a federal right to switch Medigap policies, and an insurer may review your health before it accepts you.
That matters if you're thinking of leaving a Medicare Advantage plan for Original Medicare this year. You can make that move during Open Enrollment, but a Medigap policy to go with it isn't automatic. California has its own birthday rule for people who already have Medigap, which we cover in our turning 65 checklist. Talk to us before you drop anything so you don't end up with a coverage gap.
What is the Annual Notice of Change, and what should I look for?
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September. It lists the changes in coverage, costs and more that take effect in January. Medicare.gov says to review it and decide whether the plan will still meet your needs next year, and to contact your plan if you didn't get it. Medicare.gov: Plan Annual Notice of Change.
When you open it, look for:
- Premium: is your monthly premium going up, down or staying the same?
- Deductibles and copays: for doctor visits, specialists, hospital stays and drugs.
- Maximum out-of-pocket: the most you'd pay in a year for covered medical care in Medicare Advantage.
- Network changes: doctors, hospitals or medical groups joining or leaving the plan.
- Drug list (formulary) changes: drugs removed, moved to a higher tier, or given new prior authorization rules.
- Extra benefits: dental, vision or hearing benefits that were added, reduced or dropped.
How do I check my doctors, drugs and pharmacy?
A plan that looks cheaper on paper can cost more if your doctor is out of network or your prescription is on a higher tier. Before you pick a 2027 plan, check three things:
- Doctors and hospitals. Confirm each doctor, specialist and medical group is in network for 2027, not just this year. In the Inland Empire, many plans work through specific medical groups, so check the group, not only the doctor's name.
- Prescriptions. Look up every drug, with the exact dose, on the plan's 2027 drug list. Note the tier and whether it needs prior authorization or step therapy.
- Pharmacy. Make sure your pharmacy is in network, and whether it's a preferred pharmacy with lower copays. Compare mail order if you take maintenance drugs.
Bring your list to your review and we'll run the comparison with you.
What if I miss December 7?
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get a second chance. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31. During it you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare, and you can also join a separate drug plan. Coverage starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request.
This window is only for people already in Medicare Advantage. If you have Original Medicare and a Part D plan, it doesn't let you switch drug plans. Certain life events, like moving out of your plan's area, can open a Special Enrollment Period at other times of year.
Your Open Enrollment checklist
- Read your Annual Notice of Change as soon as it arrives
- Write down every prescription with the dose and how often you fill it
- List your doctors, specialists, medical group and preferred hospital
- Note your pharmacy and whether you use mail order
- Compare 2027 plans on premium, copays, out-of-pocket maximum and drug costs
- Make any change before December 7, 2026
How Redline Insurance helps
We're an independent agency, so we can compare plans from more than one carrier, including Humana and UnitedHealthcare, instead of pushing a single company. Our Medicare help is free to you. We don't run group workshops. Every review is one on one, by phone, by video, or in person at our office at 145 W Valley Blvd in Colton.
- We're licensed for Medicare in California, Texas and Florida.
- We check your doctors, drugs and pharmacy against 2027 plans before you decide.
- If your current plan still fits, we'll tell you. No change is sometimes the right answer.
- Hablamos español.
Frequently asked questions
When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage?
Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027, as long as the plan gets your request by December 7.
Do I have to do anything if I like my current plan?
Usually not. If your plan is still offered, you generally stay in it. But read your Annual Notice of Change first, because costs, networks and drug lists can change for the new year.
Can I switch Medigap plans during Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment is for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, not Medigap. Outside your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period and certain guaranteed issue situations, an insurer may review your health before accepting you. California residents who already have Medigap may also have rights under the state's birthday rule.
What can I do between January 1 and March 31?
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare and join a separate drug plan. This window is only for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
Does it cost anything to meet with Redline Insurance about Medicare?
No. Our Medicare help is free to you. You can meet with us by phone, by video, or in person at our Colton office.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 10 organizations which offer [#] products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.