Medicare Open Enrollment (also known as the Annual Election Period) begins today! From October 15 to December 7, you can make unrestricted changes to your Medicare coverage options. During this period, you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or you can sign up for a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. You may also be able to buy a Medigap policy to help cover your Original Medicare costs, depending on the state you live in. Changes you make during this period will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Note: Many Medicare services remain available during the present government shutdown. 1-800-MEDICARE is up and running to provide enrollment assistance, and you can continue to use Medicare.gov to research plans.
How to Make the Most of Medicare Open Enrollment
In order to ensure you are getting the best health and drug coverage for the upcoming year, you should review your current Medicare health and drug coverage and compare it with the available options. If you currently have Original Medicare, consult the Medicare & You 2026 handbook for your coverage and costs for next year. If you currently have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should receive an Annual Notice of Change and/or Evidence of Coverage document outlining coverage and costs, including any changes for next year. Everyone is different, so keep in mind your individual health needs when comparing plans, such as the providers and specialists you frequently see and the costliest prescription drugs for you. Even if you are satisfied with your current coverage, it is a good idea to check if there are options in your area that are more affordable, have fewer coverage restrictions, or are otherwise better suited to your needs.
Medicare Rights President, Fred Riccardi, speaks about the importance of reviewing your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
The best way to enroll in a new plan is via the Medicare Plan Finder website or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Plan Finder can help you compare Medicare Advantage and prescription drug costs across plans in your area, taking into consideration the drugs you take and the pharmacies you use. To confirm plan information you read online, call the plan directly and always write down everything about the conversation, including the date, name of the representative you spoke to, and any outcomes. Enrolling directly through these official Medicare platforms can protect you in case you receive incorrect information from Medicare sources or run into problems with your plan. In 2026, to account for changing plan information on Plan Finder, people who enroll directly through the online platform will be given a Special Enrollment Period if they have been given incorrect network information by Plan Finder.
Other Enrollment Periods
Open Enrollment is the Medicare enrollment period that covers the most expansive range of beneficiaries and plans, as you can make any number of changes to Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Part D coverage. But there are also other enrollment periods that may be important for you to know about.
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period begins on January 1 and ends on March 31. If you choose a Medicare Advantage Plan during Open Enrollment and are dissatisfied with it when it goes into effect, you have the option to switch Medicare Advantage plans or switch to Original Medicare. However, if you entered the year with Original Medicare, you will not be able to use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
If you received notice that your Medicare Advantage Plan is terminating at the end of the year, you will have an additional Special Enrollment Period from December 8, 2025, to February 28, 2026. Any changes you make will go into effect on the first of the following month, so you should aim to make important health and drug coverage changes by December 31 so that you are not subject to a gap in coverage once your current coverage ends.
How We Can Help
At the Medicare Rights Center, our helpline (800-333-4114) is ready to help you navigate Open Enrollment. Our expert counselors can walk you through plan comparisons with a Plan Finder appointment, explain new and changing benefits, and help you troubleshoot enrollment problems as they arise. Last year, we completed over 200 Plan Finders with beneficiaries across the country, helping callers find the best, most affordable Medicare Advantage and Part D plans according to their personalized coverage and prescription drug needs.
Among these Plan Finder callers in 2024 was Mark P., who was unsure whether he should change his prescription drug coverage during Open Enrollment. He, like many people just getting started with plan comparisons, had found the process “confusing and daunting.” When he called the Medicare Rights Center for a Plan Finder appointment, one of our counselors thoroughly reviewed his specific prescriptions and helped him evaluate in detail several plans’ coverage, cost, and reviews. “She gave me all the time I needed to understand the information and took my call back a few days later to answer additional concerns,” Mark said. “She made it clear and gave me confidence about making a decision.”
Medicare Interactive, our online educational platform, also houses an Open Enrollment toolkit filled with detailed resources. Your Guide to Medicare Open Enrollment, written by Medicare Rights experts, can help you understand your options and feel confident about making enrollment decisions. This resource explains key upcoming changes to Medicare, includes expert advice from our counselors, and helps you avoid confusing or misleading marketing. Log in or register for free at Medicare Interactive to access the guide and numerous other downloadable and interactive educational resources.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, and YouTube to keep up with Open Enrollment news and see tips and reminders from our team during this key period.
