Medicare Open Enrollment runs from 15 October to 7 December 2026, and any change you make takes effect on 1 January 2027. For most Medicare recipients, this is the one time each year to review coverage and switch plans.
Plans change every year. Premiums, drug lists, copays, and in-network doctors can all shift, and some plans leave an area entirely. Taking an hour now can save money and stress next year. Adult children helping a parent should block out time for this too.
What you can change
During Open Enrollment, you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
One caution: Open Enrollment is not a guaranteed window for Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans. In most cases, if you leave Medicare Advantage by choice, you may have to answer health questions to buy a Medigap policy. The exception is if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving your area, which can give you guaranteed rights to buy one. Ask before you switch.
Your Open Enrollment checklist
What’s changing for 2027
Prescription drug costs are going up in 2027, so even if you’re happy with your plan, you should compare.
| Part D Drug Coverage | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Deductible | $615 | $700 |
| Yearly Out-of-Pocket Cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
Part D premiums may rise. A temporary federal program that held down stand-alone drug plan premiums ends after 2026. Some Medicare Advantage plans are leaving markets. Others may add a premium to plans that used to cost $0. More negotiated drug prices start 1 January. Medicare’s negotiated prices expand to another group of high-cost drugs.
Source:medicareresources.org, 16 September 2026. Medicare had not announced the 2027 Part B premium when this was written; it usually announces it in the fall.
What Medicare does not cover
Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care, which is help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and meals. That means it does not cover room and board in assisted living, memory care, or residential care homes, or ongoing non-medical in-home care.
Medicare can cover a short skilled nursing stay after a qualifying hospital stay, and it covers hospice care. Many families learn about the gap only when a parent needs more help at home or is being discharged from the hospital.
If you are reviewing coverage because care needs are changing, Placement Helpers can help. Our local advisors explain care options and costs and connect you with resources like VA benefits and long-term care insurance. Our service is free to families.
Watch out for Medicare scams.
Scam calls go up during Open Enrollment. Keep these rules in mind:
Medicare will not call you out of the blue to sell a plan or ask for your Medicare number. Never give your Medicare, Social Security, or bank numbers to someone who contacted you first.
Be wary of anyone who pressures you to decide on the spot or offers gifts for signing up. If something feels wrong, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself.
Free help in California
You don’t have to sort through Medicare plans alone. These services are free and do not sell insurance:
HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program): one-on-one Medicare counseling from counselors registered with the California
Department of Aging. Call (800) 434-0222; your call will be routed to your local office.
Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.
If a parent’s needs are changing and you are weighing care options for 2027, call Placement Helpers at 866-828-9855 or talk to a local advisor. We help families across California, at no cost, in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.
Sources
medicareresources.org: Medicare open enrollment 2027
CA.gov: Medicare Counseling (HICAP)
Medicare.gov