Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist: Review & Switch 2027

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for 2027 coverage. This is your once-a-year chance to review your Medicare coverage and change your Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. Even if you are happy with your current plan, reassess your coverage every year, because plans adjust their premiums, drug lists, provider networks, and extra benefits annually. This Medicare enrollment checklist walks you through what to review before December 7 and when switching plans makes sense for 2027.

First, a quick refresher on what you are comparing

Before you work the checklist, it helps to know the plan options on the table:

• Original Medicare is Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance), run by the federal government. Part B also covers preventive services like screenings and your annual wellness visit.
• Medicare Part C, better known as a Medicare Advantage plan, bundles Medicare Part A and Part B, usually adds Part D prescription drug coverage, and often includes extra benefits like dental and vision.
• Medicare Part D is stand-alone prescription drug coverage you add on top of Parts A and B.
• A Medigap plan (Medicare Supplement insurance) works alongside Parts A and B to help pay your share of costs. It is not a Medicare Advantage plan, and you cannot use both at once.

This period lets you move between these plan options. Knowing which one you have now makes the rest of the checklist faster.

Is this checklist for you?

This Medicare Open Enrollment checklist is for people already enrolled in Medicare who want to review and switch for 2027. If you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time, the rules are different: your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) starts three months before your 65th birthday, and missing your IEP can trigger late enrollment penalties. Social Security handles that first enrollment, so contact Social Security and enroll in Medicare on time to avoid them. You do not need to enroll in Medicare again if you already have coverage.

Why review your plan every year

Each September, your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It spells out exactly what is changing for the coming year: your monthly premium, deductible, copays, coinsurance, covered drugs, pharmacy network, and extra benefits. A plan that was a great fit this year can look very different next year. The people who overpay are usually the ones who auto-renew without reading these changes. For more on why plans shift, see why so many plans change or disappear each year.

What to have handy before you start

Gather these before you compare, so the numbers reflect your real costs:

• Your Medicare card, plus your Medicare number or Social Security number.
• Your current plan's notice letter.
• A list of your prescriptions.
• The names of your healthcare providers, so you can check networks.

Your Medicare Open Enrollment checklist

Work through these before December 7:

Check	What to look for
Read your ANOC letter	The September notice lists every change to your plan for 2027. Flag anything that went up.
Check your prescriptions	Confirm each drug is still on the plan's formulary and at the same tier. Formularies are revised every year.
Check your pharmacy	Make sure it is still "preferred." Preferred versus standard can change your copays a lot.
Check your doctors	Confirm your healthcare providers and hospitals are still in the plan's provider networks, especially on HMO and PPO plans.
Compare premiums and costs	Compare the new monthly premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum against what you pay now.
Review extra benefits	Check dental, vision, hearing, over-the-counter, and any flex card or Part B giveback. These are updated yearly.
Check the star rating	Compare plan quality with the Medicare star ratings. Higher-rated plans can be worth a switch.
Check savings programs	See if you now qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program to lower your costs, including help with your Part B premium.
Run the numbers in Plan Finder	Use the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to compare every plan in your ZIP against your exact drug list.

When switching plans makes sense

You do not have to switch, and staying put is fine if your plan still fits. But it is usually worth moving to a new plan when:

• A drug you take is dropped from the formulary or moves to a higher tier.
• Your premium or costs jumped more than you expected in the notice.
• A doctor or hospital you use left the network.
• Your plan is being discontinued for 2027, in which case you need to pick a new one or you may be moved back to Original Medicare.
• Another plan offers better extra benefits for the same or lower cost.

If your out-of-pocket coinsurance and deductibles are hard to plan around, a Medigap plan (Medicare Supplement insurance) can cap your costs. Keep in mind that switching Medigap outside your one-time Medigap open enrollment window can involve medical underwriting.

What you can change during Open Enrollment

During October 15 to December 7, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the reverse.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan.

Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027. If you miss AEP, your next chance is usually the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP), which runs January 1 to March 31 and only lets you make one change if you are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Outside those windows, a Special Enrollment Period may let you change plans during the year if a qualifying life event applies to you. See every window in our guide to Medicare open enrollment dates.

How to compare plans and get free help

You do not have to compare plans alone, and you should never pay to enroll. Free ways to check your options for 2027:

• Medicare Plan Finder. At Medicare.gov, enter your ZIP and your prescription drugs to see every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan in your area, ranked by your real yearly cost.
• State counseling. Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling, in person or by phone.
• Medicare's help line. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for questions and plan comparisons.
• A licensed agent. A licensed Medicare Advocate can compare the plan options available to you against your drugs, doctors, and budget, and handle the switch, at no cost.

Whichever route you choose, have your current plan's notice and your drug list handy so the comparison reflects your actual costs.

When to start your Open Enrollment review

You do not have to wait until October 15 to get ready. A simple timeline keeps the review low-stress:

• September: Watch the mail for your ANOC and set it aside to read. This is the single most important document of the year for your coverage.
• Early October: Make your drug list and note your regular doctors, so you are ready the moment plans for 2027 are published.
• October 15 to mid-November: Run your options in Plan Finder or with a SHIP counselor or a licensed agent, and compare the total yearly cost, not just the premium.
• By early December: Make your decision and enroll. Do not wait until December 7, when call and office wait times peak.

Starting early means you are comparing calmly on your own schedule rather than rushing a decision in the final week.

Common questions about Medicare Open Enrollment

Do I have to switch my plan during Open Enrollment?

No. If your plan still covers your drugs and doctors at a cost you are comfortable with, you can keep it and it renews automatically. The point of checking is to make sure that is still true for 2027.

What happens if I do nothing during Open Enrollment?

Your current plan renews for 2027 with whatever changes are listed in your ANOC. If your plan is being discontinued and you do nothing, you may lose that coverage and return to Original Medicare without a prescription drug plan, which can trigger a late penalty.

How much is the Medicare Part B premium?

Most people pay the standard Part B premium of $202.90/month, deducted from their Social Security benefits. Your Part B premium can be higher if your income is above the annual threshold. Part B is separate from your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, and you keep paying it even on Medicare Advantage.

What is the difference between AEP and the Medicare Advantage OEP?

AEP (October 15 to December 7) is open to everyone with Medicare and allows any plan change. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) is only for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage and allows just one change.

When do my Open Enrollment changes take effect?

Any change made between October 15 and December 7 starts January 1, 2027.

Where can I get free help comparing plans?

Use the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for free counseling, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or reach a licensed agent. None of these charge you to compare or enroll.

Can I switch after December 7?

Usually only through the Medicare Advantage OEP (January 1 to March 31), which lets you make one change if you are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, or through a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify.

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Not sure whether your plan is still the best fit for 2027? A licensed Medicare Advocate will review your current coverage, compare it against the plans in your area, and handle the switch if a better one exists, at no cost. Give us a call before December 7.