Medicare Annual Enrollment Period 2026: October 15–December 7 Explained
Every fall, people with Medicare get one broad chance to change their health and drug coverage for the year ahead. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period 2026 opens October 15 and closes December 7, and any changes take effect January 1, 2027.
For the more than 2 million Georgians with Medicare, plan costs, drug lists, and networks may look different next year. Reviewing them now is easier with the right information, and Medicare open enrollment help in Georgia can make the process less overwhelming.
This guide explains the dates, your options, 2027 Georgia plan data, and what to check carefully before you decide.
What Is the Annual Enrollment Period?
The Medicare.gov Open Enrollment page describes it as the yearly window to change your coverage. The changes you make are effective January 1 of next year, as long as your plan receives your request by December 7. Many people also know it as Medicare open enrollment or fall open enrollment.
It is designed for people who already have Medicare. Anyone newly eligible, such as someone turning 65, generally uses an Initial Enrollment Period instead.
The review matters because plans can adjust premiums, drug lists, and provider networks every year. A plan that fit well in 2026 may not fit your doctors, prescriptions, or budget in 2027.
Key Dates to Know
Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
September 2026 | Plans begin notifying members about 2027 changes; the Medicare & You handbook is mailed |
October 1 | Plan comparison opens on Medicare.gov |
Around October 8 | 2027 Star Ratings are posted |
October 15 | Open Enrollment begins |
December 7 | Open Enrollment ends; your plan must have your request |
January 1, 2027 | New coverage begins |
These dates come from the CMS fact sheet for Georgia.
What You Can Change During Open Enrollment
What you can do depends on your current coverage. According to Medicare.gov, you can:
- Join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage
- Join, drop, or switch a Medicare drug plan if you have Original Medicare
- Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or back again
If you return to Original Medicare, you may need a separate drug plan and may want Medigap coverage. Medicare.gov notes there are limits on when you can add Medigap.
What Open Enrollment Does Not Cover
Medigap works differently. Medicare Supplement plans in Georgia are sold by private insurers, and enrollment rules are separate from this window. Check when you can buy Medigap before dropping a Medicare Advantage plan.
A Georgia Snapshot for 2027
The CMS state fact sheet reports these Georgia figures for 2027:
- Medicare Advantage: 161 plans, down from 166, with an average monthly premium of $2.99, compared with $6.55 in 2026
- Drug plans: 9 stand-alone plans, with a lowest monthly premium of $5.30
- Premium shopping: about 52% of people in stand-alone drug plans can find a lower premium than they paid in 2026
Averages hide real differences between plans, so compare your own doctors and medications. Nationally, CMS projects these changes for 2027:
- Average Medicare Advantage premium: from $14.37 to $12
- Average drug premium inside Advantage plans: from $11.32 to $7
- Average stand-alone drug premium: from $35.09 to $36
How to Review Your Plan Step by Step
- Read your plan notices. They outline changes to premiums, costs, and covered services.
- List your doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacies. Include every drug you take regularly.
- Compare plans on Medicare Plan Finder. Enter your drugs for accurate cost estimates.
- Look beyond the premium. Compare deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket limits.
- Check Star Ratings. They are expected around October 8.
- Enroll before December 7. Your plan must receive the request by then.
A simple timeline can keep the process manageable:
- Now: read notices and gather your doctor, drug, and pharmacy lists
- After October 8: check Star Ratings and compare plans
- October 15 onward: decide and enroll, leaving time before the deadline
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a plan on premium alone
- Assuming your plan will stay the same next year
- Skipping your medication list or pharmacy check
- Ignoring mailed plan notices
- Waiting until the final days to compare options
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage at a Glance
Open Enrollment is the main time to move between these two paths, so it helps to see the differences:
Feature | Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
How it works | Parts A and B through the federal program | A private plan that covers Part A and B services |
Doctors | Providers that accept Medicare nationwide | Plan networks, sometimes with referrals |
Drug coverage | Separate Part D plan | Usually included in the plan |
Extra coverage | Medigap is optional | Medigap is not used; may add dental, vision, hearing |
CMS reports that more than 99% of people with Medicare have access to at least one Advantage plan nationally, and Georgia residents all do. Neither path is automatically better, because the right fit depends on your health needs.
Reviewing Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage plans must cover what Original Medicare covers, but rules can differ. When comparing Medicare Advantage plans in Georgia, confirm whether your doctors and hospitals are in-network and whether referrals or prior authorization apply. Many plans also add benefits such as dental, vision, or hearing, though you generally still pay your Part B premium.
For example, imagine a plan with a very low premium that places a key medication on a higher cost tier. Over a full year, the total could exceed a plan with a higher premium but lower drug costs. Looking at the yearly total gives a clearer comparison.
Questions to Ask Before You Switch
- Are my doctors and hospitals in-network?
- Is every medication covered, and at what cost tier?
- Which pharmacies are preferred?
- What is the yearly out-of-pocket limit?
- Are referrals or prior authorization required?
- Could leaving Original Medicare limit my Medigap options later?
Prescription Drug Coverage in 2027
Drug costs deserve their own review. Part D out-of-pocket spending is capped at $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026, though premiums do not count toward that cap. CMS is also ending a temporary program that had helped hold down stand-alone drug premiums.
Because formularies and pharmacies vary, careful prescription drug plan enrollment in Georgia starts with your actual medication list. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan can also spread drug costs across the year.
Who Should Pay Extra Attention?
A review is useful for everyone, but it matters most for people who:
- Take several prescriptions each month
- See specialists or use a particular hospital
- Received a plan notice showing higher costs or network changes
- Have both Medicare and Medicaid, or receive Extra Help
Savings Programs Worth Checking
Medicare Savings Programs help pay premiums and sometimes other costs, and Extra Help lowers Part D costs for people who qualify. CMS notes that only about half of eligible people are enrolled in Medicare Savings Programs, so it is worth checking eligibility.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
CMS says people who want to keep their current coverage do not need to re-enroll. Still, plans change each year. Before the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period 2026 ends, confirm that your doctors, drugs, and costs still fit. Also watch for any notice saying your plan is changing or ending, since that may require a new choice.
How to Enroll or Change Plans
Once you choose, select “Enroll” on Medicare Plan Finder or contact the plan directly. You need both Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan, and either Part A or Part B to join a drug plan. For help, 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
After December 7: Other Chances to Change
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31. You can make one change, either to another Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare. You cannot use it to join a drug plan from Original Medicare or to leave Original Medicare for Advantage.
Retirees and Caregivers
People with employer or union retiree coverage should check how it works with Medicare before changing anything. Retiree Medicare plan advisors in Georgia can help confirm what is at stake. Families helping a parent may also seek caregiver support for Medicare decisions . Georgia SHIP offers free counseling at 1-866-552-4464, option 4.
Get Medicare Annual Enrollment Period 2026 Help from Value Financial Protection
Open enrollment moves fast, and the details are easier with someone beside you. At Value Financial Protection, our licensed advisors explain your options in plain language at no cost. Start with a Medicare consultation: bring your plan notices and medication list, and we will review what is changing before December 7.
Ready to talk it through? Call 678-449-7197 to reach a Medicare advisor in Georgia, or fill out our contact form. We serve Gresham Park, Lilburn, Atlanta, Druid Hills, Monroe, Decatur, Tucker, Stockbridge, Snellville, Covington, and Redan, plus anyone seeking Medicare enrollment help in Loganville, GA.
Because we can only discuss the plans we represent, we encourage comparing options at Medicare.gov too.
Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.