General information only.

Medicare Open Enrollment, in plain words

October 15 to December 7

Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 every year.

It is a time when a person with Medicare can change their coverage.

What you can change

Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage. You can also add or drop drug coverage.

Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Or switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.

If you are in Original Medicare, join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan.

Coverage for a change made in Open Enrollment starts January 1 of the next year.

The plan must get your request by December 7.

There is a separate window called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

It runs January 1 to March 31.

It is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

They can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan.

Or they can drop their Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. They can also join a separate Medicare drug plan.

A change made in this window starts the first of the month after the plan gets the request.

This is not the same window as October 15 to December 7.

You can compare plans free at Medicare.gov/plan-compare.

You can start comparing from October 1. That is before the window opens.

Help by phone:

1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227)

TTY: 1-877-486-2048

Only Medicare can decide your coverage. For your own details, use Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Source: Medicare.gov. Checked November 2026.

General information only.