Medicare Open Enrollment Deadline: December 7

What is the Medicare Open Enrollment deadline?

Medicare Open Enrollment happens each year from October 15 through December 7. December 7 is the deadline for most changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug coverage for the next year.

If you are enrolling by form, phone, online, or through a plan, the plan must receive your enrollment request by December 7. For changes made during the 2026 Open Enrollment period, new coverage generally starts January 1, 2027.

What changes can you make by December 7?

What you can do during Open Enrollment depends on the coverage you have now. Common changes may include:

Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Switching from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
Joining, dropping, or switching Medicare Advantage Plans, with or without drug coverage.
Joining, dropping, or switching a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

Medicare Advantage is also called Part C. Medicare drug coverage is often called Part D.

When do Open Enrollment changes take effect?

Changes made during Medicare Open Enrollment generally take effect on January 1 of the next year. For example, a change submitted during the 2026 Open Enrollment period would generally begin January 1, 2027.

If you keep your current coverage, any plan benefit or cost changes for the new plan year generally also begin January 1.

What if you miss the December 7 deadline?

If you miss December 7, you usually cannot make the same Open Enrollment changes until another valid enrollment period applies. However, some people may still have options depending on their situation.

For example, if you are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may be able to use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31. Special Enrollment Periods may also apply after certain life events, such as moving or losing other coverage.

How is Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment different?

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is separate from the October 15 through December 7 Open Enrollment period. It runs from January 1 through March 31 and is only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

During this period, a person in a Medicare Advantage Plan may be able to switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan or return to Original Medicare and, in some cases, join a separate Medicare drug plan. Medicare says you can only make one change during this period.

Does Open Enrollment cover every Medicare decision?

No. Medicare Open Enrollment mainly applies to Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug coverage choices. It is not the same as your first chance to sign up for Medicare Part A or Part B, and it does not automatically give you a new guaranteed right to buy or switch a Medigap policy.

Medigap rules can depend on federal and state protections, timing, and your personal situation. If you are thinking about leaving a Medicare Advantage Plan for Original Medicare, review how that may affect your ability to get Medigap coverage.

Our Process

From First Meeting to Medicare Enrollment

We begin by helping you understand how Medicare works and how the different pieces fit together. We walk through Original Medicare, Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement insurance, and Part D prescription drug coverage, including how formularies, drug tiers, and plan rules can affect your costs.

We also explain dental, vision, and hearing coverage, along with other products that may help fill gaps in your healthcare plan. Depending on your needs, that may include short-term in-home healthcare coverage, hospital indemnity insurance, or coverage designed to provide additional financial support following a cancer diagnosis, heart attack, or stroke.

Once you understand the landscape, we move into the planning stage. That is when we review your doctors, hospitals, prescription drugs, current coverage, and other personal details so we can begin evaluating the Medicare plan options that fit your situation.

Discovery Meeting

We collect information about your doctors, hospitals, prescription drugs, current coverage, and other important details, then discuss your unique situation and priorities. Start your secure Medicare profile.

Create Your Strategy

We review the information gathered during discovery and develop a Medicare claiming and coverage strategy tailored to your circumstances.

Plan Enrollment

Once you are comfortable with the strategy, we help coordinate the appropriate enrollment steps and timing.

Annual Reviews

Medicare plans, costs, formularies, provider networks, and personal circumstances can change. We conduct annual reviews to help determine whether your current coverage still fits.

Request Medicare Planning Information

Official Sources

Open Enrollment | Medicare
Verifies that Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, that requests must be received by December 7, and that changes are effective January 1.
Your Yearly Medicare Review Medicare Open Enrollment October 15 – December 7
Verifies that December 7 is, in most cases, the last day to change Medicare coverage for the next year and that plans must get enrollment forms by that date.
Joining a plan | Medicare
Verifies that joining, switching, or dropping Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug plans can only happen during certain enrollment periods.
Special Enrollment Periods | Medicare
Verifies that certain life events may allow changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug coverage outside regular enrollment periods.
What if I want to switch, drop, or rejoin drug coverage? | Medicare
Verifies options and timing for switching, dropping, or rejoining Medicare Part D drug coverage, including the October 15 through December 7 Open Enrollment period.

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