When Medicare Open Enrollment Starts This Year

You checked the mail and found a thick envelope from your Medicare plan. Inside is a notice that your premiums are going up next year, or maybe your plan is dropping a drug you take every month, or your favorite doctor is no longer in the network. Your stomach drops a little. Now what? Here’s the good news: once a year, Medicare gives you a dedicated window to do something about exactly this kind of situation. That window is called the Annual Enrollment Period, and for 2026 coverage, it runs from October 15 to December 7, 2025. If you miss it, you’ll generally be locked into your current plan for another full year. So let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.

What the Annual Enrollment Period Actually Is (and What It Isn’t)

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, often called the AEP or sometimes “Open Enrollment,” is the one stretch of time each year when almost anyone with Medicare can make changes to their coverage. It opens October 15 and closes December 7. Any changes you make during this period take effect January 1, 2026.

Here’s what you can do during AEP:

• Switch from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C)
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different one
• Join a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for the first time (if you didn’t when you first became eligible)
• Switch from one Part D plan to another
• Drop a Part D plan entirely

What you can’t do during AEP is change your Medicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap. Medigap operates on different rules. In most states, insurers can require medical underwriting outside of specific guaranteed-issue windows, so if you want to switch Medigap plans, that’s a separate conversation that typically requires talking to an insurance agent or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor first.

I’ve had clients sit down with me convinced they could use AEP to grab a better Medigap plan, and the disappointment when they learn otherwise is real. Don’t let that be a surprise for you.

Why 2026 Is a Year Worth Paying Close Attention To

Every year brings changes to Medicare plans, but some years matter more than others. Plans adjust their formularies (the list of covered drugs), alter their copays and deductibles, add or remove providers from their networks, and sometimes exit a service area entirely. Sitting on your hands and assuming “nothing will change” is one of the costlier mistakes I’ve watched seniors make.

For 2026, a few things are worth keeping on your radar. The Medicare Part D landscape continues to shift following the Inflation Reduction Act’s phased changes. The $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug costs, which officially took effect in 2025, means drug plan designs are restructuring across the board. Premiums, deductibles, and tier placements for specific drugs are shifting as plans adjust their benefits to account for this cap. A plan that was perfect for your prescriptions in 2025 might cost you significantly more in 2026.

So how do you find out what’s changing for your specific plan? Every Medicare plan is required to send you an Annual Notice of Change, sometimes called an ANOC, by September 30, 2025. That’s the document to read carefully, even if it feels tedious. It tells you exactly how your plan is changing for the upcoming year.

A Step-by-Step Plan for Using AEP Wisely

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This doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Break it into four manageable steps, and most people get through the whole process in an afternoon or two.

Step 1: Gather your information before October 15.

Pull together your current Medicare card, your list of prescriptions (drug name, dosage, and how often you take it), and the names of your doctors and any specialists you see regularly. Having this stuff in front of you will make everything else faster.

Step 2: Read your Annual Notice of Change carefully.

When it arrives in late September or early October, don’t file it away unopened. Look specifically at changes to your monthly premium, your plan’s drug formulary, and your provider network. If any of your drugs are moving to a higher tier or getting removed from the formulary entirely, that’s a strong signal to shop around.

Step 3: Compare plans on Medicare.gov.

The Medicare Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov is genuinely one of the most useful free tools available to you. Enter your prescriptions and preferred pharmacies, and it’ll show you estimated annual costs across every plan available in your ZIP code. Don’t just look at the monthly premium. Look at the total estimated drug costs for the year. Sometimes a plan with a $0 premium costs you significantly more out of pocket than a plan charging $40 a month.

Step 4: Call for help if you want it.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased, one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers in every state. They have no products to sell you and no commissions to earn. They just help you understand your options. This is an underused resource, and I genuinely wish more people knew about it.

Step 5: Make your decision and enroll before December 7.

Once you’ve picked a plan, you can enroll online at Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or contact the plan directly. You generally don’t need to formally cancel your old one. Enrolling in the new plan triggers the switch automatically.

Comparing Your Main Options: Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare with Part D

One of the bigger decisions some people face during AEP is whether to stay in Medicare Advantage or return to Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan, or vice versa. Here’s a simple side-by-side to help frame the decision.

Neither option is universally better. The right answer depends on your health, your medications, your doctors, and your finances. That’s why comparing before you commit matters every single year.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During AEP

Knowing what not to do is just as useful as knowing what to do.

Waiting until the last week. December 7 has a way of sneaking up on people. Phone lines get busy, plan websites get slow, and if something goes wrong with your enrollment you’ll want time to fix it. Aim to make your decision by late November.

Only looking at the monthly premium. I’ve seen people switch to a “cheaper” plan and spend thousands more than they expected because they didn’t account for drug tier costs or higher specialist copays. Always look at your estimated total annual cost, not just the premium.

Assuming your doctor is still in-network. Provider networks change every year. Before you re-enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, call your doctor’s office directly and confirm they’ll still be accepting that specific plan in 2026. Don’t rely on the plan’s online directory alone.

Enrolling in a plan because someone called you. Medicare plans aren’t allowed to call you unsolicited unless you’ve given them permission. If someone calls claiming to offer a better plan, hang up. Report suspicious calls to 1-800-MEDICARE. Sales tactics targeting seniors during AEP are unfortunately common.

Forgetting that doing nothing is also a choice. If your current plan still works well for you, staying put is perfectly fine. But make that a deliberate decision after reviewing your ANOC, not a default because you ran out of time.

The October 15 start date will arrive before you know it. Getting your information together now, setting a reminder to read your Annual Notice of Change when it arrives in late September, and giving yourself a few weeks to compare plans before December 7 will put you in a strong position. You’ve worked hard for these benefits. Taking a couple of hours each fall to make sure they’re still working hard for you is one of the most practical things you can do for your health and your wallet.

This article is for informational purposes only. Medicare rules change annually. Always verify current plan details at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). This site does not sell insurance or recommend specific plans.

Sources

• Medicare Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
• Yes4All Wooden Balance Board for Seniors
• Medicare and You 2024 Official Handbook (Amazon)
• OMRON Platinum Blood Pressure Monitor Upper Arm

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Recommended Resources

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• Medicare For Dummies (~$22), The definitive consumer guide to Medicare, enrollment windows, Part A/B/C/D, and supplement plans.
• Get What’s Yours for Medicare (~$17), Maximize your Medicare benefits and minimize out-of-pocket costs. Covers Part D drug coverage gaps and Medigap in depth.