Let's set the stage. Medicare Open Enrollment (people in the business call it AEP, the Annual Enrollment Period) is the one window each year when anyone with Medicare can change their Medicare Advantage or Part D plan without a special reason. Your plan was required to mail you an Annual Notice of Change explaining what is different next year. Read it before October 15.
Every 2027 enrollment window in one table
| Window | Dates | Who it is for | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Enrollment | October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Anyone with Medicare | January 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 to March 31, 2027 | People already in a Medicare Advantage plan | First of the month after the plan gets your request |
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months around your 65th birthday month | People new to Medicare | Depends on when you sign up |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | People with a qualifying event, such as moving or losing other coverage | Varies |
What you can do during Open Enrollment
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or back.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, switch or drop a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
If you make more than one change, the last one you make by December 7 is the one that takes effect.
What the January to March window allows
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is narrower. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one change by March 31: switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or drop Medicare Advantage, return to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan. People in Original Medicare cannot use this window to join a Medicare Advantage plan.
Where Medicare Supplements fit
Here's the thing a lot of people miss. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are not tied to Open Enrollment. You can apply any time of year. But outside of your Medigap open enrollment period at 65 and a few federal guaranteed issue situations, the company can ask health questions. Open Enrollment does not guarantee you can get a Supplement. See switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in Utah.
What is different for 2027
- Part D out-of-pocket limit rises to $2,400 (from $2,100 in 2026), and the standard Part D deductible rises to $700 (from $615), per the CMS CY 2027 Rate Announcement.
- 15 more drugs get negotiated Medicare prices starting January 1, 2027, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, per CMS.
- The 2027 Part B premium is pending; CMS publishes it in November. For comparison, it was $202.90 a month in 2026.
- In Utah, Salt Lake, Utah and Davis counties each have 28 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 (not counting special needs plans), and the whole state shares 8 stand-alone Part D plans, per the CMS 2027 landscape file. See Medicare in Utah for your county.
A simple Open Enrollment checklist
- Read your Annual Notice of Change.
- Write down your prescriptions and doctors.
- Compare your current plan with the 2027 options in your county.
- Make your change by December 7, 2026, and keep the confirmation.
Everything Senior Insurance is a licensed insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Medicare Open Enrollment dates for 2027 coverage?
October 15 through December 7, 2026. Medicare must receive your plan choice by December 7, and the new coverage begins January 1, 2027.
Can I change my Medicare Advantage plan after December 7?
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, 2027, you can make one change between January 1 and March 31, 2027. Outside those windows you need a Special Enrollment Period, such as one triggered by a move.
Is Medigap open enrollment the same as Medicare Open Enrollment?
No. Your Medigap open enrollment period is a one time six month window that starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Medicare's fall Open Enrollment does not create a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap policy.
What happens if I miss Medicare Open Enrollment?
Your current plan usually renews for 2027 with its new costs and benefits. You may still have the January to March window if you are in Medicare Advantage, or a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Joining a health or drug plan (enrollment periods)
- Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods
- Medicare.gov: When can I buy a Medigap policy?
- CMS: Announcement of CY 2027 MA Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (April 6, 2026)
- CMS fact sheet: Negotiated prices for initial price applicability year 2027
Updated October 26, 2026 by the Everything Senior Insurance Data Desk.