Medicare AEP 2027: An 8-Week Action Plan

Week 1 (Oct. 15–21): Find Your Annual Notice Of Change And Book An Appointment

Start by finding your plan’s Annual Notice of Change. Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans send this notice each fall, either on paper or electronically if you opted into electronic delivery. If you haven’t received it, or if you misplaced it, contact your plan and ask for another copy.

While you’re at it, find a local Medicare insurance agent and get on their calendar. Agents’ schedules fill up early, and the final weeks of AEP are always the most hectic. An appointment in week four is easy to get. One in week eight often isn’t.

Week 2 (Oct. 22–28): Read The Notice And Mark What Changed

Now sit down and actually read it. The notice explains important changes to your plan’s coverage, costs, service area, and other terms for 2027, and you can’t make an informed choice without knowing what those are.

Take a highlighter to anything involving your premium, your deductible, and your Part D formulary (the list of covered medications). Those are the changes most likely to affect your wallet.

Week 3 (Oct. 29–Nov. 4): Write Down What You (And Your Spouse) Need

Most people look back at the year they just had and forget to look ahead. Make a short list of what you’ll need in 2027:

• Every prescription you take, including any new ones from this year
• Your doctors, specialists, and preferred pharmacy
• Any condition or treatment you expect to need next year
• The same details for your spouse, since the plan that fits you may not fit them

Week 4 (Nov. 5–11): Compare Your Options, Even If You’re Happy

This is the week to shop. Use Medicare’s Plan Finder to browse plans in your ZIP code, and meet with your agent to go over what you find. You can compare available plans without signing in or committing to an enrollment.

Compare plans even if you like the one you have. You won’t know whether there’s a cheaper Part D plan, or an Advantage plan with more benefits at the same price, unless you look. If you end up staying put, you’ll have made that choice on purpose.

Week 5 (Nov. 12–18): Check Doctors, Drugs, And The Total Cost

Narrow your list to two or three plans, then check each one against your Week 3 notes. Original Medicare does not use a plan provider network, but you should still confirm that each provider accepts Medicare, is taking new Medicare patients, and, if costs matter, accepts Medicare assignment. Medicare Advantage plans generally use provider networks, so confirm that your doctors are in-network for 2027. Then confirm that each of your medications is on the plan’s formulary.

Look at total yearly cost instead of just the monthly premium: premium, deductible, copays, and drug costs. CMS also typically finalizes official Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles in November. The 2027 Part B premium is projected at $209.50 a month, up from $202.90 in 2026, so watch for the final figure.

Week 6 (Nov. 19–25): Make Your Decision

Pick your plan this week, before the holiday. Talk it over with your spouse or family if the decision affects them, and ask your agent any last questions.

One caution: if you’re thinking about leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, talk to an agent before you cancel anything. AEP doesn’t apply to Medigap, and without guaranteed-issue rights the insurer may require medical underwriting.

Week 7 (Nov. 26–Dec. 2): Enroll

Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, so expect slower phone lines and fewer open appointments. Complete your enrollment now if you can, and keep your enrollment confirmation. When you switch to another Medicare health or drug plan, your existing plan will generally end when the new coverage begins, so don’t separately cancel it unless Medicare or the plan instructs you to.

If you decided to keep your current plan, you’re finished with this step. Just save a copy of your notes in case you have questions later.

Week 8 (Dec. 3–7): Confirm And Keep A Buffer

The deadline is Monday, December 7. Use these last five days as a safety net and not as your plan. Make sure you received confirmation of your new enrollment, and call your plan if you haven’t.

If you miss AEP and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you’ll generally have to wait until next fall to change plans. During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31, 2027), someone already enrolled in Medicare Advantage may make one change: switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and, if needed, join a stand-alone Part D plan. The period does not let someone with Original Medicare switch stand-alone Part D plans without another enrollment right.

Don’t Skip The Local Expert

Medicare is a national program, but available Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans vary by location. In addition to calling 1-800-MEDICARE or contacting your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for impartial counseling, it can be helpful to connect with a local Medicare insurance agent.

An agent can help you compare the plans they represent, but no agent necessarily represents every plan available in your area. Verify provider participation with the provider and the plan, and compare current pharmacy and prescription costs through Medicare’s Plan Finder or the plan. Most of the mistakes people make are covered in our guide to the 6 biggest AEP mistakes to avoid.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Medicare open enrollment start and end in 2026?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7. Changes you make during this window take effect January 1, 2027. AEP applies to Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans.

When should I start preparing for Medicare AEP?

Before it begins, if possible. Find your Annual Notice of Change and contact a local Medicare agent in the first week. Agent schedules fill up as AEP goes on, and the last week is typically the busiest.

Can I change my Medigap plan during the Annual Enrollment Period?

Yes. You may apply to change Medigap plans during AEP, or at another time, but AEP does not give you a special right to buy Medigap. Outside your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, a guaranteed-issue right, or applicable state protection, an insurer may use medical underwriting and may deny the application or charge more.

What if I don’t receive my Annual Notice of Change?

Contact your plan and request a copy. Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans send these notices each fall, on paper or electronically if you opted into electronic delivery, to explain important changes for the coming year.

What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline?

Without a qualifying Special Enrollment Period, you generally can’t change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan until the next AEP. If you’re already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you may make one change between January 1 and March 31, switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and, if needed, join a stand-alone Part D plan. This period does not allow someone with Original Medicare to switch stand-alone Part D plans.

Related Medicare guides

• AEP 2027 Survival Guide: Key Medicare Deadlines to Know
• Medicare Enrollment Rights 2027: Dates, Rules and Protections
• Medicare Open Enrollment: The 6 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid
• Medicare Agent vs. Direct Signup: Which Is Better?
• Switching Medicare Supplement Plans During AEP
• Best Medicare Supplement Plans for 2027
• Compare Medigap Plan G and Plan N: The 3-Step Decision Puzzle