Medicare Annual Enrollment • 2026
Understand Your 2027 Medicare Coverage Options
Medicare plans can change from year to year. Whether your current plan is ending or you simply want to understand next year's coverage, CRM Group can help you review your options and take your next step with confidence.
Annual Enrollment: October 15–December 7, 2026
Review Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan options for coverage beginning January 1, 2027.
Clear explanations. Personalized guidance. No obligation to enroll.
What Is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
Medicare Annual Enrollment, also called Medicare Open Enrollment, is the yearly opportunity to review and make certain changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage. You can compare plans, switch eligible coverage or decide to keep a plan that still meets your needs.
Plan preview
October 1, 2026
Agents and insurance carriers can begin discussing 2027 Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan options and changes. AEP enrollment requests begin October 15.
Enrollment opens
October 15, 2026
Annual Enrollment begins. You can submit requests to join, switch or drop eligible Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage for January 1, 2027.
Enrollment closes
December 7, 2026
Annual Enrollment ends. The plan must receive your enrollment request by this date for an AEP change.
Coverage begins
January 1, 2027
Coverage selected during Annual Enrollment takes effect.
Not every Medicare decision follows these dates. Initial enrollment, Medicare Supplement rights and Special Enrollment Periods depend on your circumstances.
What Could Change in Your Medicare Plan for 2027?
Keeping the same plan name does not necessarily mean keeping the same coverage. Review your plan's Annual Notice of Change, which explains changes taking effect in January. If you have not received it, contact your plan.
Pay particular attention to:
- Premiums and deductibles: What you pay each month and before certain benefits begin.
- Copays and coinsurance: Your share of the cost for appointments, hospital care and other services.
- Doctors and hospitals: Whether the providers you want to use participate in the plan's network.
- Prescription coverage: Covered medications, drug tiers, pharmacy costs and coverage requirements.
- Additional benefits: Changes to dental, vision, hearing, fitness or other benefits a plan may offer.
- Plan availability: Whether your plan will continue where you live.
Why Do Plans Change?
Plans make annual decisions about pricing, benefits, provider arrangements and the areas they serve. Healthcare spending, prescription costs and changes to Medicare's payment and benefit rules can all influence those decisions. The effect differs by plan and location.
The Inflation Reduction Act redesigned Medicare Part D, adding an annual out-of-pocket limit for covered prescriptions while changing how costs are shared among Medicare, drug manufacturers and insurers. Plans now bear a larger share of certain high drug costs. These changes provide protections for people with Medicare while also changing plan finances; they do not explain every premium or benefit change.
The practical next step is to review your own plan's notice and compare coverage based on your needs, rather than assuming every plan is changing in the same way.
Is Your Medicare Advantage or Drug Plan Ending?
A notice that your plan is ending can feel unsettling. It does not usually mean you are losing Medicare itself. It does mean you should confirm what happens next and arrange the coverage you need.
Start With These Steps
- Keep your notice. Check the plan name, when coverage ends, and the instructions and deadlines that apply to you.
- Gather your priorities. Have a list of your doctors, prescriptions and preferred pharmacies ready for your review.
- Compare your next coverage. Consider medical and prescription costs, provider access and coverage requirements together.
- Confirm the effective date. Make sure you understand when new coverage starts and what happens to your current plan.
Do not cancel coverage on your own before confirming your replacement arrangements.
You May Have a Special Enrollment Period
If your Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Cost Plan's contract with Medicare is not renewed for the coming year, Medicare provides a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February.
For a qualifying plan non-renewal at the end of 2026, that window is December 8, 2026–February 28, 2027. Other reasons a plan ends can have different deadlines, so review your actual notice.
Extra time to enroll does not extend your old plan. If your plan ends December 31, its benefits do not continue through February just because you have a Special Enrollment Period. Your new coverage start date depends on when and how you enroll. Reviewing options during October 15–December 7 can help you arrange coverage for January 1.
What If I Do Nothing?
If your Medicare Advantage plan is not renewed and you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before it ends, you will generally return to Original Medicare. That does not automatically give you a Medicare Supplement policy, and you may need to arrange separate prescription drug coverage. If your stand-alone drug plan is ending, confirm how you will maintain drug coverage. Review your notice for any special arrangements that apply to you.
Ask About Medicare Supplement Rights
If your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area and you move to Original Medicare, you may have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medicare Supplement policies. These rights have their own deadlines and eligibility rules, and state protections can differ. Ask about them promptly; the drug/Advantage SEP and Medicare Supplement application window are not the same.
Let us know you received a plan-ending notice so we can help you understand the next step.
What Should You Review Before Choosing a Plan?
Start with the care you use and the costs you could face throughout the year—not just the monthly premium.
- Are your preferred doctors, specialists and hospitals in the plan's network?
- Are your prescriptions covered, and what will they cost at your preferred pharmacy?
- What are the deductibles, copays, coinsurance and applicable out-of-pocket limits?
- Do you need referrals or prior authorization for services you use?
- How does the plan work when you travel or spend part of the year elsewhere?
- Have your health needs, prescriptions or budget changed?
- Which additional benefits would you actually use, and what are their limits?
For your conversation, have your plan notices and a current list of doctors, medications and pharmacies nearby. You do not need to upload them to request help.
Clear Medicare Guidance, Built Around You
Insurance should be understood, not sold. We begin with your questions and priorities, explain the important differences, and help you compare options available through the insurance companies we represent.
1. Tell Us What You Need
Request a review and tell us whether your plan is ending, your costs are changing or you simply have questions.
2. Review the Details That Matter
A licensed agent can help you check plan costs, provider networks and prescription coverage based on your location and circumstances.
3. Decide on Your Next Step
Understand your choices before making a decision. If a different plan fits your needs and you are eligible to enroll, we can help with the application process.
A review does not obligate you to enroll or change plans. Individual assistance is available where our agents are licensed; plan availability and eligibility vary by location.
Request a Medicare Plan Review
Whether you received a plan-ending notice or want a second look at your coverage, start here. Share a few details and a licensed CRM Group agent can follow up about your request.
Prefer to call? Reach CRM Group at (888) 771-7401.
Thank You—We Received Your Request
Your Medicare review request has been submitted to CRM Group. A member of our team can follow up using the contact information you provided.
Have your plan notice and questions ready for the conversation. This request does not change your coverage.
Need to reach us? Call (208) 314-1779.We Couldn’t Submit Your Request
Please check the highlighted fields and try again. If the problem continues, call (208) 314-1779 for help.
Call (208) 314-1779Medicare Annual Enrollment Questions
When is Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage?
The fall enrollment window runs October 15–December 7, 2026. Coverage selected during that period begins January 1, 2027, as long as the plan receives your enrollment request by December 7.
Do I have to change my Medicare plan every year?
No. If your plan continues to be available, you remain eligible and it still meets your needs, you can generally keep it. Review its renewal information and Annual Notice of Change first. A plan-ending notice or other special situation may require action.
Is an Annual Notice of Change the same as a plan-ending notice?
No. An Annual Notice of Change explains next year's changes to your current plan, such as costs and benefits. A non-renewal or plan-ending notice tells you that particular coverage will not continue and provides instructions about what happens next. If you are unsure which notice you received, ask for help reviewing it.
What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is discontinued?
Your notice explains when coverage ends and your enrollment opportunities. If a plan is not renewed and you do not choose another Medicare Advantage plan before it ends, you will generally return to Original Medicare. Review prescription drug coverage and any Medicare Supplement rights separately so you understand what protection you will have.
Can I change a Medicare prescription drug plan during AEP?
Yes. Annual Enrollment is an opportunity to join, switch or drop Medicare prescription drug coverage, subject to applicable eligibility rules. Coordinate any change with your medical coverage: in most Medicare Advantage plans, joining a separate drug plan can end your Medicare Advantage enrollment. Get help before changing one piece of your coverage.
Can I change Medicare Supplement plans during AEP without health questions?
AEP does not automatically give everyone a right to buy or switch Medicare Supplement coverage without medical underwriting. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, guaranteed-issue rights and state rules determine what protections apply. A plan non-renewal may create special rights, so review your particular situation promptly.
What if I miss December 7?
You may have another enrollment opportunity if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. People already enrolled in Medicare Advantage may also have a limited opportunity to change coverage during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1–March 31. That is not an extension of fall enrollment for everyone. Ask which rules apply to your situation.
Can I keep my doctors and prescriptions if I change plans?
That depends on the plan. Before enrolling, check the plan's current provider directory, prescription formulary and pharmacy network for the coverage year you are considering. Confirm important provider participation and coverage details with the plan and provider; do not assume they stay the same because a carrier or plan name is familiar.
Can you help if I do not live near your office?
You can request guidance from wherever you live. We will review your location and connect you with assistance where our agents are licensed and appropriate plan options are available. Include your ZIP code so we can understand the area you need help with.
Does requesting a review obligate me to enroll?
No. A review is an opportunity to understand your options and ask questions. Submitting this form does not enroll you in a plan, cancel your coverage or require you to purchase insurance.
Helpful Medicare Resources
Explore Medicare basics or read the official information behind this guide.
- Medicare Open Enrollment dates
- Medicare Special Enrollment Periods
- Understanding your Annual Notice of Change
- Medicare Supplement purchase rights
Information checked: September 28, 2026. Plan details and enrollment rights depend on your circumstances; review your plan's documents and current Medicare guidance before making a coverage decision.
Understand Your Options Before You Decide
You do not need to sort through every Medicare change on your own. Tell us what you are concerned about, and we can help you work through the next step.
CRM Group, LLC is an insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Plan availability, benefits, costs and eligibility vary by location and individual circumstances. An agent may contact you in response to your request.