Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. This is the time to review your Medicare health and prescription drug coverage for the coming year. Changes made during Open Enrollment take effect on January 1, 2027.
Your needs—and your plan’s costs, benefits, covered prescriptions, and provider network—may change from year to year. Compare your options to make sure your coverage still meets your needs.
What can you change during Open Enrollment?
Depending on your current coverage, you can:
- Join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
- Join, drop, or switch a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D).
Before making a change, check how it will affect your health coverage, prescription benefits, and any supplemental coverage. Visit Medicare.gov for Open Enrollment details.
Review your coverage for 2027
- Read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change to see what will change in 2027.
- Check that your doctors, hospitals, and preferred pharmacies are covered.
- Review coverage and costs for each of your prescriptions.
- Compare premiums, deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Get free, unbiased help from SHINE
The Alliance for Aging’s Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) program provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling for beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. Trained counselors can help you understand your options and compare plans.
For help or to ask about current counseling appointments and locations, call 305-671-6356, visit www.floridashine.org, or call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337.
SHINE is a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and is operated locally through the Alliance for Aging, Inc. SHINE also helps Medicare beneficiaries recognize and report potential errors, fraud, and abuse.
Don’t wait until the last minute: Medicare must receive your enrollment request by December 7, 2026.