Medicare Open Enrollment dates for 2027 coverage
Medicare's annual Open Enrollment Period, also called the Annual Enrollment Period, is when you choose your health and drug coverage for the coming year. For 2027 coverage in North Carolina and every other state, the dates are the same:
Your 2027 Medicare calendar
- October 1, 20262027 plans and prices appear in the Medicare Plan Finder. Your current plan mails its Annual Notice of Change around this time.
- October 15, 2026Open Enrollment begins. You can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- December 7, 2026Open Enrollment ends. The last plan you choose by this date is the one you'll have.
- January 1, 2027Your 2027 coverage starts.
- January 1 – March 31, 2027Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more switch, to another Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare.
What you can change between October 15 and December 7
Changes allowed during Medicare Open Enrollment
| Change | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan | Yes |
| Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare | Yes |
| Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another | Yes |
| Join, switch or drop a stand-alone Part D drug plan | Yes |
| Change Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans | Not guaranteed — see switching Medigap plans |
If you do nothing, most plans renew automatically. That is fine only if your plan still covers your doctors and prescriptions at a price that works in 2027 — which is exactly what the Annual Notice of Change tells you.
The 2027 numbers worth knowing before you choose
Lower average premiums don't mean every plan got better. CMS expects about 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans nationally for 2027, close to 5,553 last year, but the average person has fewer to pick from. In North Carolina, CMS counts 179 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, with an average premium of $6.19 (CMS estimate) a month. That is why we compare the out-of-pocket maximum, networks and drug lists, not just the premium. See what's changing in Medicare for 2027.
What to do before December 7
- Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists every 2027 change to your premium, copays, drug list and network.
- List your prescriptions and doctors. These two things decide which plan is cheapest for you in real life.
- Compare total cost, not premium. Add the premium, the deductible and what you'd pay for your drugs over a year.
- Don't leave it to the last week. Help lines and agents are busiest in early December.
If you get help paying for Medicare through Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program, you may have more chances to change plans during the year. See help paying for Medicare.
Bring a complete comparison file, not just your insurance card
A useful annual review starts with your current plan name and identification number, doctor and hospital names, prescriptions with doses and frequency, preferred pharmacies and anticipated care. Include notices about plan termination, Extra Help or employer retiree coverage. Those details can change the comparison or the enrollment opportunity available to you.
A step-by-step annual review
- Read the changes. Identify changes to the premium, deductible, drug coverage, copays and maximum medical exposure.
- Verify access to care. Check the specific plan network and formulary for the coming year. A familiar insurer name is not sufficient.
- Compare yearly costs. Include premiums and expected use of services, not only the first pharmacy payment or an advertised extra benefit.
- Identify the enrollment route. Make sure the change you want is permitted during the window you are using. Medigap acceptance is a separate question.
- Keep confirmation. Save the enrollment receipt, effective date and any required premium instructions. Resolve conflicting notices before the new year.
When keeping the same plan may be reasonable
You do not have to switch simply because it is Open Enrollment. If your doctors, medicines, costs and service needs still fit, keeping the plan may be appropriate. The purpose of the review is to reach an informed decision, not to change coverage every fall. Still read the renewal information because the benefits and costs can change even when the plan name remains familiar.
Be careful with employer or union retiree benefits
Before joining an individual Medicare plan, ask the benefits administrator how that enrollment affects employer or union coverage for you and your dependents. Do not assume that dropping a retiree arrangement is reversible. Bring its written rules to the review so a plan comparison does not overlook benefits you could lose.
If you miss a deadline, identify your current coverage and ask which enrollment period, if any, applies next. The Medicare Advantage January–March opportunity is not a universal extra enrollment window for everyone on Original Medicare.
Quick questions
Is Medicare Open Enrollment the same as the Annual Enrollment Period?
Yes. Both names mean the October 15, 2026 to December 7, 2026 window for 2027 coverage.
What happens if I miss December 7?
Your current plan generally renews for 2027. If you're in Medicare Advantage, you get one more change during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, January 1 – March 31, 2027. Otherwise you need a Special Enrollment Period.
Do I have to re-enroll in Medicare every year?
No. Your plan renews automatically unless it is leaving your area. Reviewing it each fall is still the only way to catch price and coverage changes.
How The Jordan Insurance Agency helps
The Jordan Insurance Agency is an independent agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina. We compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans across the carriers in your county, check your doctors and prescriptions against each plan, and show you what each plan would cost you for the year.
There is no fee for our help. Carriers pay the agent, so your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own.
Next steps: read what's changing in Medicare for 2027 and our Annual Enrollment Period guide.
Enrollment dates and 2027 figures checked October 16, 2026. Sources: CMS — 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape, CMS — 2027 MA and Part D state-by-state fact sheets, Medicare.gov — Joining a plan, AMAC — Medicare costs 2027 (cites 2026 Medicare Trustees Report).
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