Key takeaways:
Medicare open enrollment begins October 15 and ends December 7 annually.
You will need to choose either original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C). Part C is a private alternative to original Medicare that typically includes prescription coverage (Part D). You can buy a stand-alone Part D plan if you choose original Medicare or if your Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t cover prescription medications.
Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) helps cover out-of-pocket costs for original Medicare enrollees. Medigap is an additional plan with its own premium.
Autumn is the season for Medicare open enrollment. This is the time when older adults and others who qualify for Medicare choose health coverage for the next calendar year.
Medicare open enrollment typically begins October 15 and ends December 7 annually. The coverage you select during this period will start on January 1 of the next year.
You can choose original Medicare coverage, which includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Or you can opt for a private Medicare Advantage plan (Part C). Part C plans include Part A and Part B coverage — and most also include Part D prescription coverage.
Search and compare options
If you’re enrolling in Medicare for the first time, view this quick comparison of original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. If you already have Medicare, this Medicare plan finder tool can help you explore Medicare Advantage plans, Part D prescription plans, and Medigap supplement plans ahead of open enrollment. You can also use Medicare star ratings to compare the performance of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
Our GoodRx Medicare guide also explains eligibility rules, costs, and coverage details for original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
Even if you’re happy with your coverage, check your plan details before open enrollment ends. Costs and benefits often change, and you could be missing out on perks and savings. For people with original Medicare, the open enrollment period in the fall is the only guaranteed chance to switch plans each year.
Next, we’ll discuss what’s new for Medicare plans in 2026 and what to do if you’re enrolling for the first time. There’s also information for people signing up for a Part D prescription plan for the first time.
What’s open enrollment? And what can you change?
Medicare open enrollment in the fall offers the most flexibility for switching Medicare plans. Enrollees with original Medicare can:
Switch to a Medicare Advantage plan
Stay with original Medicare and join a Part D prescription plan
Stay with original Medicare and choose a different Part D plan
Drop Medicare prescription coverage
During fall open enrollment, those with Medicare Advantage plans can also make changes. These enrollees can:
Change from an Medicare Advantage plan to original Medicare
Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan without Part D coverage to one with prescription coverage
Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription coverage to one without
If you have Medicare Advantage, there is another open enrollment period from January 1 to March 31 annually. This allows you to make changes during the coverage year. We’ll discuss Medicare Advantage plans more later.
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What’s new this year for Medicare open enrollment?
Medicare changes in 2026 include: higher costs overall, savings on prescription medications because of drug price negotiation, and a pilot program requiring prior authorization for certain Part B services for original Medicare enrollees in six states.
The standard monthly Part B premium is $202.90 in 2026, nearly 10% higher than the $185 premium in 2025. The annual deductible for Part B is also higher: $283 in 2026, compared to $257 in 2025 — another 10% increase.
Medicare Part D plans in 2026 have higher deductibles and higher out-of-pocket limits than in 2025. The average projected Part D premium for 2026 was $34.50 for stand-alone plans and $11.50 for prescription coverage rolled into Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare Part D changes
Part D is affected by three major cost and spending management updates in 2026:
New deductible cap: After you meet your deductible, which can’t exceed $615 in 2026, you’ll pay copays or coinsurance for covered medications until you reach the out-of-pocket limit.
$2,100 out-of-pocket limit: In 2026, you won’t pay more than $2,100 out of pocket for covered medications. When you reach that spending cap, your Part D prescription plan pays 100% of the costs of your covered medications.
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: As of 2025, anyone with a Part D plan can make scheduled payments for their out-of-pocket medication costs instead of paying up front at the pharmacy. With the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, your covered medication costs can be spread out across the year. If you joined the payment plan in 2025 and your Part D coverage didn’t change for 2026, you were automatically reenrolled in the payment plan — unless you opted out. If you change plans, you must join the payment plan again.
How to prepare for open enrollment
It’s a good idea to prepare for open enrollment before it rolls around each year. If you have Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage with Part D, or a stand-alone Part D plan, start by reviewing your annual notice of change (ANOC). Medicare Advantage and Part D plans must send enrollees this document by September 30 every year. Your plan’s ANOC can help you compare your current premiums, copays, and coverage with the offerings for the next coverage year.
You should check the ANOC to make sure your preferred healthcare professionals and facilities will still be in your plan’s network. Also, pay attention to the formulary (list of covered medications) and any changes to your plan’s network of pharmacies.
If you’re thinking of making a change, be sure your new plan covers your medications, and that you can access them at an affordable cost. Also, consider coverage restrictions such as prior authorization and step therapy requirements and quantity limits. They can make getting covered medications more difficult.
What if you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time?
Medicare covers people ages 65 and older, plus some younger people with disabilities and those with permanent kidney failure requiring a transplant or dialysis.
Most people first qualify for Medicare when they turn 65. If this is true for you, you’ll have a 7-month enrollment window that will begin when you’re age 64. It will include the 3 months before your birth month, your birth month, and the 3 months after your birth month. If you or your spouse has worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years, your Medicare coverage will include Part A (hospital insurance) at no cost. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) has a monthly premium.
People who have paid Social Security taxes for less than 10 years when they turn 65 pay Part A premiums, and people who didn’t contribute at all pay a higher rate. For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90. But your premium could be higher than this, depending on your income. If you’re subject to the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), you may also pay more for your Part D prescription plan premium.
Unless you have qualifying coverage, such as from an employer, that provides benefits similar to Medicare, you’ll want to sign up for Part A and Part B during your initial enrollment period. Otherwise, you could face late enrollment penalties for Part A and Part B. There’s also a late enrollment penalty for Part D, which will be discussed in the next section.
How can you avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty?
Prescription coverage isn’t included in original Medicare. But you can buy a Part D plan separately. Unless you have creditable coverage for medications from another source, you’ll want to sign up for prescription coverage when you initially join Medicare to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. (Examples of creditable insurance include employer-based coverage or a retiree prescription plan that is as good as Part D.) If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, prescription coverage is often included.
If your income is low, check to see if you’re eligible for the Extra Help subsidy to assist with Part D premiums and other out-of-pocket costs.
If you don’t have other creditable coverage, the costs of signing up late for Medicare prescription coverage can add up fast. The penalty is calculated from an annual base amount — $38.99 in 2026 — that typically changes yearly. You’re charged 1% of that base amount for each month you didn’t have coverage via your Part D premium. So for instance, a person who is 2 years, or 24 months, behind on enrolling would have a 24% upcharge — or about $9.36 — added to their Part D monthly premium in 2026.
The Plan D penalty exists to encourage people who qualify for Medicare to join prescription plans when they’re first eligible and not wait until they’re older, when they may take more medications. This allows Medicare to balance costs among enrollees.
Even if you don’t take medications now, you should sign up for Part D because the penalty compounds. This isn’t a one-time late fee.
Should you consider a Medicare Advantage plan?
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is offered by private insurance companies. These plans deliver the same benefits as Medicare Parts A and B, and they often include extra coverage for vision care, dental care, and gym membership. Most — but not all — Medicare Advantage plans include prescription medication coverage.
If you're planning to enroll in a Part C plan, be sure to choose carefully, because Medicare Advantage networks are typically limited to a local area. Make sure your plan covers your primary care physician and any specialists you see. You’ll also want to make sure the formulary includes the prescription medications you take.
Medicare Advantage plans can be attractive, but they may not be the best option for you. You can call a counselor at SHIP to get help understanding the fine print. SHIP representatives provide free, unbiased advice about Medicare coverage.
What is Medigap, and do you need to enroll in that, too?
Medigap is another name for Medicare supplement insurance. This type of coverage helps pay for out-of-pocket costs such as copays and deductibles — but only if you have original Medicare. Private companies sell Medigap plans that carry letter names. Plans with the same letter attached have the same benefits, so the only factor to compare is the premiums.
There are 10 standardized Medigap plans: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. But not all of them may be available in your state. Some plans cover foreign travel emergencies and stays at skilled nursing facilities, among other expenses. Plan F and Plan G also have high-deductible options in some states.
Medigap policies are available at the lowest cost during your one-time, 6-month Medigap open enrollment period. This starts when you’re age 65 and enrolled in Part B coverage. If you wait, you could face medical underwriting. This may result in a Medigap plan charging you more or denying you coverage.
Medicare offers a Medigap policy search tool to help you find and compare plans. When you’re ready to make your choice, there’s also a list of steps to follow on the agency’s website. And GoodRx can help you with tips for choosing a Medigap plan.
Some people may have all the coverage they need for extra medical expenses through other types of insurance. That insurance can be coordinated with Medicare. Examples include:
Union coverage
Military or veteran coverage, such as Tricare
Employer-based plans
The bottom line
Medicare open enrollment is typically October 15 to December 7 annually. During these 7 weeks, you can join, switch, add, or drop coverage. If you have Medicare Advantage, there is another open enrollment period from January 1 to March 31 every year.
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