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How are Medicare benefits changing for 2026?

Learn how premiums, out-of-pocket costs and income-related surcharges are changing for 2026 Medicare coverage.

Guides

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 Financial help by state Enrollment and Eligibility

Medicare Basics

What is Medicare? History of Medicare Medicare and the ACA

annual election period

What is an annual election period?

What is Medicare's annual election period?

Medicare’s annual election period – also known as Medicare open enrollment – is the annual period during which Medicare plan enrollees can reevaluate their coverage and make changes.

During open enrollment, a beneficiary can switch Medicare Advantage plans, switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare or from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, join a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, switch from one Part D plan to another or drop Medicare Part D coverage entirely.

Open enrollment does not apply to Medigap coverage, however.

The enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7 each year, and changes you make during that time are effective January 1.