Medicare Open Enrollment Period
Summary
Medicare's Annual Open Enrollment Period begins Wednesday, October 15, and runs until December 7. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can change their Medicare health or drug coverage for 2026. A beneficiary can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare drug plan, or switch to Original Medicare during this annual Open Enrollment Period. New coverage begins January 1, 2026 if a change was made.
Individuals enrolled in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan should review the materials their plans send them, such as the “Evidence of Coverage” (EOC) and the “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC). If their plans are changing, they should make sure their plans will still meet their needs for the following year. If they’re satisfied that their current plans will meet their needs for next year and it’s still being offered, they don’t need to do anything.
Individuals enrolled in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan should review the materials their plans send them, such as the “Evidence of Coverage” (EOC) and the “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC). If their plans are changing, they should make sure their plans will still meet their needs for the following year. If they’re satisfied that their current plans will meet their needs for next year and it’s still being offered, they don’t need to do anything.
Types/Tools
States