Medicare guide · Annual Enrollment 2027
Medicare Annual Enrollment 2027: your 7-step checklist.
Key dates: Annual Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026. Any changes you make start January 1, 2027.
Every fall, people with Medicare get a chance to review their coverage and make changes for the next year. Even if you’re happy with your plan, it’s worth a look: premiums, drug lists and doctor networks can all change on January 1. Here’s the checklist I walk through with my clients.
1. Read your Annual Notice of Change
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by September 30. It lists what’s changing on January 1: premiums, deductibles, copays, covered drugs and the provider network. Plans can change every year, so don’t assume next year will look like this year.
2. Check every prescription you take
Look up each drug in your plan’s 2027 drug list (formulary). Check that it’s still covered, which tier it’s on, and whether it now needs prior authorization or step therapy. Include the pharmacy you use, since preferred pharmacies can cost less.
In 2027, the most you’ll pay out of pocket for covered Part D drugs is $2,400 for the year, up from $2,100 in 2026. If your drug costs are high, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread them into monthly payments instead of paying all at once.
3. Confirm your doctors and hospitals
Medicare Advantage networks change. Call your doctors’ offices, or check the plan’s 2027 provider directory, to confirm they’ll still be in network. If you travel or spend part of the year in another state, check how the plan covers you there.
4. Compare the total cost, not just the premium
A $0 premium plan isn’t always the lowest-cost plan. Add up what you’d realistically pay in a year:
- Monthly premium, including your Part B premium
- Medical and drug deductibles
- Copays for the doctors, specialists and services you use
- The plan’s maximum out-of-pocket limit, in case you have a bad health year
5. Look closely at extra benefits
Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision, hearing, over-the-counter allowances or fitness programs. The details matter: yearly dollar limits, which dentists are in network, and what’s actually covered. Compare them the same way you compare medical costs.
6. See if you qualify for help with costs
If your income and savings are limited, Extra Help can lower your Part D costs, and a Medicare Savings Program can help pay your Part B premium. Rules vary by state, so it’s worth checking even if you’re not sure. See my guides for Florida, Georgia and Texas.
7. Know the Medicare Supplement rules before you switch
Annual Enrollment is for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. It doesn’t give you a right to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. Florida, Georgia and Texas don’t have a birthday rule, so if you leave a Medicare Advantage plan for Original Medicare, you may have to answer health questions to get a Supplement. Talk it through before you drop any coverage.
Missed the deadline?
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance from January 1 through March 31 to switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare. Moving, losing other coverage and some other life events can also open a Special Enrollment Period.
Want a second set of eyes? I’ll compare the plans in your ZIP code against your doctors, prescriptions and budget, for free. Call (904) 612-3757 or book a time online. You can also join a free Medicare workshop.
Questions
Annual Enrollment questions.
When is Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage?
October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
What can I change during Annual Enrollment?
You can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, switch between Medicare Advantage plans, return to Original Medicare, and join, switch or drop a Part D drug plan.
What if I miss the December 7 deadline?
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change from January 1 through March 31 during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. Some life events, like moving, also give you a Special Enrollment Period.
Will Medicare call me about changing plans?
Medicare generally won’t call you unless you asked it to. Be careful with unexpected calls asking for your Medicare number, and never give it to someone you didn’t contact.
How much does your help cost?
Nothing. My help is free. I’m paid by the insurance company you choose, and your premium is the same whether you enroll with me or on your own.
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