When does Medicare open enrollment start and end?

It runs October 15 through December 7 every year (Medicare.gov). Changes you make during that window take effect January 1.

Do I've to do anything if I like my plan?

No. If your plan is still offered, you usually stay enrolled (Medicare.gov). Still read your plan's notice of next year's changes, since costs and drug lists can change.

Can I switch Medigap plans during open enrollment?

Open enrollment doesn't apply to Medigap. Medigap policies have their own rules, and your options depend on your state and timing (Medicare.gov). An agent can explain how those rules apply to you.

What if I miss December 7?

If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change from January 1 to March 31 (Medicare.gov). Otherwise, you may need a Special Enrollment Period, such as after a move.

Does it cost anything to get help from an agent?

No. A consultation with The Medicare Store is free to you. Insurance companies pay agents, not the people they help.

Can I get help in Spanish?

Yes. You can get a free Medicare consultation in Spanish by phone, by text or in person.

Medicare open enrollment: what you can change and where to get local help

Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year (Medicare.gov). During it, you can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, go back to Original Medicare, change Advantage plans, or join, drop or switch a Part D drug plan. Your changes start January 1. A licensed agent can compare plans with you at no cost.

Reviewed by John Schenk, Licensed Insurance Agent since 2008 · Published November 2, 2026 · Last updated November 2, 2026

The short version

Medicare open enrollment is October 15 to December 7, and new coverage starts January 1 (Medicare.gov). It covers changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D. Medigap follows its own enrollment rules (Medicare.gov). If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance to switch plans or return to Original Medicare from January 1 to March 31 (Medicare.gov). Plans can change their premiums, copays, provider networks and drug lists each year. Last year's good fit may not fit now. A local agent at The Medicare Store checks your doctors and prescriptions against plans in your county. The agent then reviews your coverage again every fall.

Medicare open enrollment dates and rules

Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year (Medicare.gov). Plan changes made during open enrollment take effect January 1 (Medicare.gov). The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31 for people already in an Advantage plan (Medicare.gov). The Medicare Plan Finder lets you compare Advantage and Part D plans by ZIP code (Medicare.gov).

What this means in plain English

Open enrollment is a once-a-year window to change how you get Medicare. You choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and you can change your drug coverage. If you do nothing and your plan is still offered, it usually renews (Medicare.gov). But a renewed plan isn't the same plan. Read your plan's notice of next year's changes before you decide to stay.

Why choose Medicare open enrollment

It's the main time most people can change plans without a special reason. Outside it, you usually need a Special Enrollment Period tied to a life event, like a move (Medicare.gov). There's a tradeoff. A new plan might lower your drug costs but drop a doctor you see. So check both before you switch. Here's a direct comparison of two options a Phoenix retiree might weigh this fall. Option one is staying in your current Advantage plan. If it's still offered, you don't have to do anything (Medicare.gov). But say next year's notice shows your insulin is coming off the plan's drug list. Your pharmacy bill could go up. Option two is switching to a different Advantage plan that covers your insulin. That could lower your drug costs, but only if your primary care doctor is also in that plan's network. The better choice is the plan that covers both your doctor and your drug, not just the one with the lower premium.

How it works

Make two lists: your doctors and pharmacies, and your prescriptions with doses. Your agent at The Medicare Store runs them against plans from the carriers they represent in your county. Then the agent compares premiums, drug costs and networks with you. Availability varies by location, so a plan sold in Phoenix may not exist in Laredo. For example, say you live in Henderson and see a heart doctor at a hospital in Las Vegas. A plan can be sold in Clark County and still leave that doctor or that hospital out of its network. So your agent checks each name on your list against each plan's network before you compare prices. Once you pick a plan, the agent handles the enrollment.

Get started today

Meet in person in Las Vegas, Reno, Phoenix, Albuquerque, McAllen or Laredo. You can also ask for a house call or talk by phone from any state. Help is available in English and Spanish. After you enroll, your agent checks in six times in the first year and twice a year after that. You'll also get a coverage review every fall.

What to do next

You now know when Medicare open enrollment runs, what you can change and what happens if you miss it. The next step is checking whether your current plan still covers your doctors and drugs next year. Make a list of your prescriptions and providers today. Then call or text 888-333-5853, or schedule a free meeting at The Medicare Store. You can also submit the contact form there. A licensed local agent will compare your options with you and handle the enrollment if you decide to switch.