Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. It's the yearly window to change your coverage for 2027, and this year brings several changes: the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400, negotiated prices for Ozempic and 14 other drugs take effect, and some Medicare Advantage plans are pulling back.
Separately, about 20 million people in traditional Medicare are getting a one-time $90 payment toward their Part B premiums this month.
Medicare open enrollment 2026 dates
| Starts | Thursday, October 15, 2026 |
| Ends | Monday, December 7, 2026 |
| Changes take effect | January 1, 2027 |
During open enrollment you can:
- Switch from traditional Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or back.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
What's changing in 2027?
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Part D standard deductible | $615 | $700 |
| Part B standard premium | $202.90 | $209.50 (projected) |
| Part B deductible | $283 | $292 (projected) |
| Social Security COLA | 2.8% | 3.6% |
Part B figures are the Medicare trustees' projections, reported by AARP; official numbers come later this fall.
Drug prices: Medicare's negotiated prices apply to 15 drugs from January 1, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. CMS estimates the change will save enrollees about $685 million in 2027. Fourteen other drugs, including Trelegy Ellipta and Xtandi, become newly covered.
Premium subsidy ends early: A temporary Biden-era program that held down some Part D premiums ends at the end of this year, earlier than planned, the AP reported.
Medicare Advantage: Some plans are leaving certain areas, cutting extras such as dental coverage, or raising cost-sharing. Check the Annual Notice of Change your plan sends you.
Who gets the $90 Medicare check?
President Trump announced one-time $90 payments in early October to help with Part B premiums.
| Who qualifies | About 20.8 million people in traditional Medicare paying their own Part B premiums |
| Who doesn't | Medicare Advantage enrollees, people whose premiums are paid by Medicaid, and higher earners who pay income-related surcharges |
| How it's paid | Direct deposit in October; some by Treasury paper check later in the month |
| Funding | The Medicare Improvement Fund, created by Congress almost two decades ago |
| Cost | About $2 billion |
Healthcare Dive noted the payments are one of several cash payouts the White House has promised ahead of the midterm elections. Critics have called a separate proposed $5,000 dividend, which would need congressional approval, "a dubious effort to buy votes."
How does the Social Security raise interact with Medicare?
Most retirees have their Part B premium taken directly from their Social Security check. The 3.6% raise for 2027 is worth about $75 a month for the average retiree. If the projected $6.60 premium increase holds, most of that raise stays in their pocket. See our Social Security COLA guide.
How to choose a plan
- Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists changes to your current plan's costs, drugs and doctors.
- Check your drugs. Enter your prescriptions in the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare total yearly costs.
- Check your doctors. Make sure they are in the plan's network.
- Get free help. Your state's SHIP counseling program and 1-800-MEDICARE offer free, unbiased advice.
AARP's Nancy LeaMond urged enrollees to compare their options and pick the coverage that suits them best.
Published Monday, October 19, 2026. This article is for information only and is not medical, legal or financial advice.
