Medicare Open Enrollment is almost here, and even if you are happy with your current Medicare coverage, 2026 is not the year to simply ignore the paperwork that arrives in your mailbox.

The 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During this period, people with Medicare can review their coverage and, if appropriate, switch Medicare Advantage plans, change prescription drug plans, move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or return from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.

Your new coverage generally begins January 1, 2027.

But you do not have to wait until October 15 to begin your homework. Medicare encourages beneficiaries to start comparing their current coverage with 2027 options beginning October 1.

That is important because Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can change their premiums, prescription drug coverage, provider networks, copayments, deductibles, pharmacies, and additional benefits from one year to the next. A plan that worked beautifully for you in 2026 may not necessarily be the most economical or convenient choice in 2027.

Here are 10 things every Medicare beneficiary should check before Open Enrollment begins on October 15.

1. Read Your Annual Notice of Change — Don’t Throw It Away

If you already have a Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug plan, you should receive an Annual Notice of Change, commonly called an ANOC.

This may look like just another thick insurance document, but it could be one of the most important pieces of mail you receive this fall.

The Annual Notice of Change explains how your plan will be different in 2027.

Look carefully for changes in:

• Monthly premiums
• Deductibles
• Doctor copayments
• Hospital costs
• Prescription drug costs
• Covered medications
• Pharmacy networks
• Doctor and hospital networks
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Hearing benefits
• Over-the-counter allowances
• Transportation or other supplemental benefits

CMS specifically recommends reviewing your plan’s Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage every year because Medicare health and drug plans can change their costs and benefits annually.

If your current plan still meets your needs and continues to be offered in 2027, you may decide to keep it.

But do not assume that “same plan name” means “same benefits.”

2. Check Every Prescription You Take

For many seniors, prescription drug coverage is one of the biggest reasons to compare Medicare plans every year.

Make a complete list of your medications before you begin comparing plans.

Include:

• Name of each medication
• Dosage
• How often you take it
• Whether you use a generic or brand-name version
• Your preferred pharmacy

Then check whether each drug will still be included on your plan’s 2027 formulary, which is the plan’s list of covered medications.

Also check the drug’s tier.

A medication may remain covered but move into a more expensive tier, which could significantly increase your copayment.

Another plan may place the same medication on a lower-cost tier.

For someone taking several medications every month, these differences can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the course of a year.

Do not compare drug plans based only on the monthly premium. The cheapest-premium plan is not necessarily the cheapest plan for your particular prescriptions.

3. Understand the 2027 Part D Changes

Prescription drug coverage has undergone major changes in recent years, and there are additional numbers to know for 2027.

For the standard Medicare Part D benefit in 2027, the maximum standard deductible rises to $700, up from $615 in 2026.

The annual out-of-pocket threshold rises to $2,400 in 2027, compared with $2,100 in 2026.

The redesigned Part D structure continues to eliminate the old prescription drug “donut hole,” or coverage gap, and beneficiaries do not pay additional cost sharing once they reach the catastrophic phase.

There are also important protections for certain drugs.

For covered insulin products, Medicare rules continue to limit monthly cost sharing under the applicable formula, while recommended adult vaccines covered under Part D remain available without cost sharing.

These changes make it especially important to look beyond a plan’s monthly premium and calculate what your medications are likely to cost over the entire year.

4. Check Whether Your Doctors Are Still in the Network

This is one of the easiest Medicare mistakes to make.

You find a Medicare Advantage plan with a low or even $0 additional monthly premium and attractive dental, vision or fitness benefits.

But then January arrives and you discover that your favorite cardiologist is no longer in the plan’s network.

Before choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, make a list of the doctors and medical facilities that matter most to you.

For example:

• Primary care doctor
• Cardiologist
• Oncologist
• Orthopedist
• Ophthalmologist
• Dermatologist
• Physical therapist
• Preferred hospital
• Medical group
• Rehabilitation facility

Then verify that they participate in the plan you are considering for 2027.

Do not rely solely on an old provider directory.

Provider networks can change.

If keeping a particular physician is extremely important to you, consider contacting the doctor’s office directly and asking whether the physician expects to accept the specific Medicare Advantage plan in 2027.

5. Check Your Pharmacy — It Can Affect What You Pay

Many people are surprised to discover that two pharmacies can charge very different amounts for the same medication under the same Medicare drug plan.

Medicare drug plans may have preferred pharmacy networks.

A pharmacy classified as “preferred” by your plan may offer substantially lower copayments than another pharmacy down the street.

When comparing Part D or Medicare Advantage prescription drug coverage, check:

• Your current pharmacy
• Nearby preferred pharmacies
• Mail-order options
• 90-day prescription options

Convenience matters, but so does price.

If changing from one pharmacy to another saves you $20 or $30 per prescription, the yearly savings can become significant when you take multiple medications.

6. Compare Total Annual Cost — Not Just the Monthly Premium

This may be the single most important rule when comparing Medicare plans:

A low premium does not automatically mean a low-cost plan.

CMS projects that the weighted average monthly premium across Medicare Advantage plans will decrease from about $14.37 in 2026 to $12 in 2027.

For stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, CMS projects the average monthly premium will rise by less than $1, from approximately $35.09 in 2026 to $36 in 2027.

Those are national averages, however. Your actual choices and premiums will depend on where you live and the plans available to you.

When comparing plans, look at the complete picture:

Monthly premium + deductible + doctor copayments + hospital costs + prescription costs + other expected medical expenses.

Consider two imaginary plans.

Plan A costs $0 per month but requires higher copayments for specialists and hospital care.

Plan B costs $40 per month but has lower medical copayments and covers your medications more favorably.

For a healthy person who rarely visits a doctor, Plan A might cost less.

For someone who sees several specialists and takes five prescriptions, Plan B might actually save money.

Your health situation—not the advertisement—should drive the calculation.

7. Review Dental, Vision, Hearing and Other Extra Benefits Carefully

Many Medicare Advantage plans advertise additional benefits that Original Medicare generally does not cover in the same way.

Depending on the plan, these might include:

• Dental care
• Vision exams and eyewear
• Hearing aids
• Fitness programs
• Transportation
• Over-the-counter allowances
• Meal benefits in qualifying circumstances
• Other supplemental services

These benefits can be valuable, but read the details.

A plan advertising “$2,000 dental coverage,” for example, may have limitations regarding which dentists participate, which procedures qualify, or how much the plan pays for a specific service.

Ask:

Would I realistically use this benefit?

A generous gym benefit has little financial value to someone who already belongs to a different gym and does not plan to change.

A good hearing-aid benefit, however, could be extremely valuable to someone expecting to purchase hearing aids next year.

Focus on benefits you are actually likely to use.

8. Decide Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare Still Fits Your Life

Open Enrollment is also a good opportunity to reconsider the bigger question:

Does your current type of Medicare coverage still fit your needs?

Original Medicare

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A and Part B. People may also purchase a separate Part D prescription drug plan and, if eligible and available to them, a Medicare Supplement policy, commonly called Medigap.

One attraction of Original Medicare is access to doctors and hospitals throughout the country that accept Medicare, without being limited to a Medicare Advantage provider network.

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.

These plans generally bundle Part A and Part B coverage and often include Part D prescription coverage. Many also offer additional benefits such as dental, vision, hearing or fitness programs.

However, Medicare Advantage plans may use provider networks and have plan-specific rules, copayments and prior authorization requirements.

Neither system is automatically right for everyone.

The important question is:

Which structure works better for your medical needs, finances, doctors and lifestyle?

One important caution: If you are considering leaving Medicare Advantage and returning to Original Medicare, do not automatically assume you will be able to purchase any Medigap policy you want at the price you expect. Medigap enrollment protections vary depending on your situation, timing and state rules.

Investigate the Medigap side of the decision before making a change.

9. Think About What Your Life May Look Like in 2027

Choosing Medicare coverage should not be based only on what happened this year.

Think ahead.

Ask yourself:

• Am I expecting surgery next year?
• Did my doctor recommend a new specialist?
• Am I developing a health condition requiring more frequent care?
• Will I need physical therapy?
• Are expensive prescriptions likely?
• Do I expect dental work?
• Will I need new hearing aids?
• Am I planning to travel extensively?
• Will I spend several months in another state?
• Am I moving?

A plan that was ideal while you were healthy and rarely visited a doctor may become much less attractive when your medical needs change.

Travel is particularly important.

People who frequently visit children or grandchildren in other states should understand how their plan handles routine and non-emergency care outside their local service area.

Medicare is health insurance—but it also needs to fit your life.

10. Compare Plans Yourself Before Saying Yes to a Salesperson

Medicare advertising becomes extremely heavy during Open Enrollment season.

You may receive:

• Television advertisements
• Phone calls
• Mailers
• Emails
• Invitations to Medicare seminars
• Messages promising additional benefits

Some may provide useful information.

But you should still independently compare your choices.

Medicare says beneficiaries can begin comparing their current health and drug coverage with 2027 options starting October 1 and can compare coverage at Medicare.gov.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE for Medicare information. CMS specifically identifies Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE as resources for comparing plans during Open Enrollment.

Before enrolling in any plan, confirm:

1. Are my doctors covered?
2. Is my hospital covered?
3. Are all my prescriptions covered?
4. How much will those medications cost?
5. What is the deductible?
6. What will specialist visits cost?
7. What could hospitalization cost?
8. What is my maximum out-of-pocket exposure for covered medical services under the plan?
9. Does the plan work when I travel?
10. Are the additional benefits actually useful to me?

Never feel pressured to make an immediate decision.

A Simple Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist

Before October 15, gather these items:

☐ Your current Medicare card
☐ Your current plan information
☐ Your Annual Notice of Change
☐ A list of all prescription medications and dosages
☐ Your preferred pharmacy
☐ Names of your important doctors and specialists
☐ Your preferred hospitals and medical groups
☐ Expected medical procedures for 2027
☐ Dental, hearing or vision needs
☐ Your estimated healthcare budget

Then compare the plans available where you live.

CMS says more than 99% of Medicare beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan in 2027, while 97% will have access to 10 or more Medicare Advantage choices.

Having many choices can be helpful—but it can also make the process confusing.

That is why having your own checklist before you start comparing plans is so valuable.

Important Medicare Dates for 2027 Coverage

October 1, 2026:
You can begin comparing your current Medicare health and prescription drug coverage with available 2027 options.

October 15, 2026:
Medicare Open Enrollment begins.

December 7, 2026:
Medicare Open Enrollment ends.

January 1, 2027:
New coverage generally begins for changes made during Open Enrollment.

Put these dates on your calendar.

Waiting until December 6 or 7 can turn what should be a thoughtful decision into a rushed one.

The Bottom Line

You do not necessarily need to change your Medicare plan every year.

But you should review it every year.

Your health can change.

Your prescriptions can change.

Your doctors can change.

And your insurance plan can change, too.

Spending an hour or two comparing your Medicare options this fall could potentially prevent unpleasant surprises—and possibly save you a considerable amount of money—during 2027.

Start with your Annual Notice of Change. Make a list of your medications, doctors and expected healthcare needs. Then compare your current coverage with the 2027 alternatives available in your area.

The goal is not necessarily to find the plan with the lowest advertised premium.

The goal is to find coverage that works well for your doctors, your medications, your budget and your life.

And that is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make for a happier, more secure retirement.

Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not individualized Medicare, insurance, legal or financial advice. Medicare plan availability, premiums, provider networks, drug formularies and benefits vary by location and plan and can change. Verify current information through Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, your plan, or a qualified Medicare counselor before changing coverage.