Somewhere in this week’s mail there’s probably a thick envelope from your Medicare plan. Maybe two. Plus a glossy postcard yelling “$0 premium!” in letters the size of a thumb.
Open Enrollment is a short window. October 15 to December 7, 2026. Whatever you pick kicks in January 1, 2027. Plan Finder (Medicare.gov/plan-compare), Medicare’s own comparison site, already has the 2027 plans loaded. Free. And it isn’t selling you a thing.
Give it an hour, maybe a bit more with coffee. Here’s the route.
Who this is for
Two groups, mostly.
Got Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a separate Part D drug plan? This is your once-a-year chance to trade drug plans. Or to try Medicare Advantage, if you’re curious.
Already on Medicare Advantage (Part C)? Then you can hop to another Advantage plan, with drug coverage or without it, or head back to Original Medicare. Careful with that last move, though. Medigap, the supplement lots of people stack on top of Original Medicare, comes with full protection only at certain times. Outside them? There’s no federal guarantee an insurer will sell you a policy, and it may cost more because of past or present health problems. That’s medical underwriting, and it can mean a flat no.
Some situations hand you a guaranteed issue right instead. One is the so-called trial right, which really covers two different cases. Joined Advantage when you were first eligible for Medicare and want out within the first year? You can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state. The second case is narrower: you dropped a Medigap policy to join Advantage for the first time, and you’re leaving within 12 months. You can buy back the policy you had, if the same insurance company still sells it. If it doesn’t, you can choose Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K or L. Plans C and F, though, aren’t available if you turned 65 on or after January 1, 2020, unless you were eligible for Medicare before then. In both trial-right cases, Medicare.gov adds that your rights may last an extra 12 months in certain circumstances.
Your Advantage plan ending your coverage is another way in. Timing matters for all of these. You can apply as early as 60 days before the Advantage coverage ends, and generally no more than 63 days after, so there is no need to wait for the plan to run out first and risk a stretch with no coverage while the application is processed. State rules differ, and so do people’s circumstances. I’d call your State Insurance Department or a SHIP counselor before dropping anything.
Join, drop, switch: all generally on the table. Your request has to reach the plan by December 7.
And if January rolls around and you regret it? A smaller do-over exists. From January 1 to March 31, anyone already in an Advantage plan gets exactly one change, either a different Advantage plan or a return trip to Original Medicare (with a drug plan added if you want). That window is closed to people on Original Medicare, who can’t use it to join Advantage or to swap Part D plans.
First, read the Annual Notice of Change
Your plan has to give you fair warning. The thing is called the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It should’ve landed by September 30, and it lays out what shifts in January, from costs and coverage to networks and service area.
No envelope? Phone the plan.
I’d read this one before opening any website, honestly. Three questions. Did the premium move? Did any of your drugs slide to a pricier tier, or vanish from the list? Are your doctors still in network?
Three “no change” answers is good news. Not the whole story. Competing plans rewrote their offers too, and one of them could fit better now.
And one envelope nobody wants. Plans can leave Medicare, or pull out of certain areas, from one year to the next, and falling national average premiums say nothing about whether yours is staying for 2027. A plan that’s leaving sends a Plan Non-Renewal Notice in October, and you’d need new coverage for the following year. Advantage members who don’t join another Advantage plan go to Original Medicare. A special enrollment window runs from December 8 to the last day of February, and leaving Advantage this way can also open a guaranteed issue right for Medigap. Only if you go back to Original Medicare, though. Pick another Advantage plan instead and you don’t get that Medigap right. Got no letter? Search your plan in Plan Finder anyway and make sure it’s listed for 2027.
How to use Medicare Plan Finder, step by step
Screens get tweaked every year. What follows is how things look as of October 2026.
1. Type Medicare.gov/plan-compare into the address bar yourself. Skip links in texts and ads.
2. Log in, or just type your ZIP code. With an account, your drug list and pharmacies stay saved between visits. Without one? Totally fine. You’ll be retyping next time, that’s all.
3. Choose what you’re shopping for: Advantage plans, or standalone Part D drug plans. Weighing Advantage against Original Medicare plus a drug plan means running both searches.
4. Enter every medication. Name, strength, how many, how often. Boring? Very. Also the single step that changes the answer most, because a $0 premium plan can turn expensive across twelve months when your prescription lands on a high tier or isn’t covered. Copy straight off the bottle labels; memory fumbles milligrams.
5. Pharmacies next, the ones you actually use. The corner drugstore, the mail-order one, whatever. Prices can shift depending on the pharmacy and its deal with each plan.
6. Sort by total cost. Not by premium. Plan Finder builds its estimate from premiums plus what your listed drugs would cost at your chosen pharmacies, and for drug spending that combined figure is the honest one. The lowest premium and the lowest yearly bill are frequently two different plans.
Catch on Advantage plans, though. That estimate is premiums and drugs, period. A specialist copay. Coinsurance on a hospital stay. A medical deductible, or the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. None of that shows up, so a plan that’s cheap on drugs could still cost you more once you start seeing doctors. Step 7 is where you check.
7. Click into the details. Deductible. Tier for each drug, plus any restrictions. Shopping Advantage? Add copays, coinsurance, any medical deductible and the yearly out-of-pocket maximum to that list, and search your doctors by name to see if they’re in network. After that, call the office anyway; directories lag.
8. Glance at the stars. Medicare scores plans from 1 to 5 on quality and performance, and the 2027 ratings went up on Plan Finder on October 8, 2026. High stars won’t make a plan right for you. Low ones are a yellow flag, though.
9. Enroll. Hit “Enroll” on the plan in Plan Finder, or go through the plan’s own website or phone line. The plan must get your enrollment by December 7.
What to compare, side by side
| What to check | Where to find it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Plan Finder results | Easy to see, but only part of the yearly cost |
| Drug deductible | Plan details | No Part D plan may have a deductible above $700 in 2027 (some have none) |
| Drug coverage and tiers | Plan details, drug list | A drug on a high tier or off the list can outweigh a low premium |
| Pharmacy network | Your pharmacies in Plan Finder | Prices can change by pharmacy |
| Provider network (Advantage) | Plan directory, then call the office | You may need in-network doctors for non-emergency care |
| Out-of-pocket maximum (Advantage) | Plan details | Caps what you pay for Part A and B services; Original Medicare alone has no yearly limit |
| Star rating | Plan Finder | Quality and performance, 1 to 5 stars |
| Estimated total yearly cost | Plan Finder sort | Premiums plus estimated drug costs for your list; not medical costs |
| Medical copays, coinsurance and deductibles (Advantage) | Plan details | Not in the drug cost estimate; matter if you use a lot of care |
A quick what-if: two drug plans, two answers
Made-up plans, made-up drug costs, real logic. Plan Finder fills in actual numbers once you enter your own list.
One limit on the totals below. They’re drug plan premiums plus estimated drug costs, nothing else, so your Part B premium and any other Medicare costs aren’t in there.
| Hypothetical Part D plans | Plan A | Plan B |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $10 | $45 |
| Yearly premium | $120 | $540 |
| Person 1 (brand-name drug): estimated yearly drug costs | $1,500 | $600 |
| Person 1: estimated yearly total | $1,620 | $1,140 |
| Person 2 (one low-cost generic): estimated yearly drug costs | $60 | $36 |
| Person 2: estimated yearly total | $180 | $576 |
Say Plan A puts Person 1’s brand-name drug on a high tier and Plan B doesn’t. Plan B’s bigger premium buys a far smaller drug bill, and it ends up $480 cheaper over the year. Person 2 takes one inexpensive generic. Same two plans. Flip. Plan A comes out $396 ahead.
Cheaper plan, then? Depends whose pill bottles sit on the table.
The 2027 numbers from CMS
CMS published its 2027 projections on September 28, 2026. Gist? Average Advantage premiums are projected to drop about 16.5%; standalone drug plans, up less than $1 a month.
| 2027 figure (CMS) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Projected average Medicare Advantage monthly premium | $12.00 (down from $14.37 in 2026) |
| Average Part D premium in Advantage plans with drug coverage, after rebates | $7 (down from $11.32 in 2026) |
| Projected average standalone Part D plan premium | $36 (up from $35.09 in 2026) |
| Part D base beneficiary premium | $41.33 (up from $38.99 in 2026) |
| Part D out-of-pocket threshold | $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026) |
| Maximum Part D deductible | $700 (up from $615 in 2026) |
Averages, remember. Your premium hinges on the plan and your county.
That $2,400 line is the one I’d circle. Hit it in out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs during 2027 and catastrophic coverage kicks in, which generally means $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year. Your own wallet isn’t the only thing that counts, either. Certain payments made on your behalf, like those through the Extra Help program, go toward the $2,400 too, and help from a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program may count as well. The base beneficiary premium, by contrast, is nobody’s actual bill. CMS starts from it when setting plan premiums and the late enrollment penalty.
One more 2027 change. The Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration (started in 2025 to soften premium swings in standalone drug plans) wraps up with 2026. CMS projects the average standalone premium to rise less than $1, but individual plans can still change, so compare before you renew.
Help with the cost of drugs
Extra Help is Medicare’s program for people with limited income and resources. Full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or SSI? You’re in automatically. Everyone else can apply through Social Security. With Extra Help in 2027, generics run $5.80 tops at participating pharmacies, and brand-name drugs $14.40 tops.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is a different animal. It won’t cut what you owe. What it does is break your out-of-pocket drug costs into monthly bills spread over the calendar year, with no fee to join and no interest. Steady, affordable costs? Probably pointless for you. A huge fill in January is another matter. Sign up through your plan.
Free help, and the calls to ignore
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, with free one-on-one Medicare counseling that’s unbiased. Look yours up at shiphelp.org. Or dial 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), around the clock except some federal holidays (TTY: 1-877-486-2048).
Then there’s the other phone call.
Medicare’s marketing rules say plans and agents can’t ring you unless you’re a member or said yes to contact. No showing up at the door uninvited. No cash, and no gifts worth more than $15, to get you to join. And no asking for personal information like bank account or credit card numbers over the phone, unless it’s needed to process an enrollment request. Medicare itself doesn’t call to sell. Somebody cold-calling about “new 2027 benefits” who wants your Medicare number? Hang up. Fake voices are getting scarily good, by the way; see our piece on AI voice cloning scams.
What to do this week
- Dig out the Annual Notice of Change. Premium, drug list, network: read those parts.
- List every drug, strength and dose included. Bottles in front of you.
- Go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare, add drugs and pharmacies, sort by total estimated cost.
- Ring your doctors’ offices. Which 2027 plans do they take?
- Still stuck? Grab a free SHIP appointment before December 7.
- Got a younger relative juggling a workplace or Marketplace plan? Our open enrollment 2027 guide for health plans handles that side.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not insurance, financial, tax, or legal advice. Plan costs, networks and drug coverage vary by plan and location, and figures above are CMS projections or official limits as of October 2026. Confirm details on Medicare.gov, with your plan, or with your local SHIP before you enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 end?
On December 7, 2026. Your request has to be at the plan by then, and coverage starts January 1, 2027.
Do I have to do anything if I like my current plan?
Usually not. Per Medicare, if you’re happy, coverage just carries on automatically. Skim the Annual Notice of Change anyway, because costs and covered drugs can shift.
Is Plan Finder the same as a broker’s website?
Nope. It’s Medicare’s official tool on Medicare.gov, and no account is required.
What if I picked the wrong Medicare Advantage plan?
Between January 1 and March 31, Advantage members get one change. Another Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare plus a drug plan if you like.
Does the $2,400 cap apply to Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage?
It does. Covered Part D drugs count toward it whether you’re in a standalone drug plan or an Advantage plan with drug coverage. Separate thing from the Advantage plan’s out-of-pocket maximum on medical services, mind you.
Sources
- CMS: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027, September 28, 2026 (www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases)
- CMS: Annual Release of Part D National Average Monthly Bid Amount and Other Part C & D Bid Information, July 28, 2026 (www.cms.gov/files/document)
- CMS: Announcement of CY 2027 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (www.cms.gov/files/document)
- CMS: Fact sheet, 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings, October 8, 2026 (www.cms.gov/files/document)
- Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment (www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment)
- Medicare.gov: Understanding Medicare Advantage & Medicare Drug Plan Enrollment Periods (www.medicare.gov/publications)
- Medicare.gov: Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) (www.medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/mailings/costs-and-coverage/upcoming-plan-changes)
- Medicare.gov: Your Yearly Medicare Review (www.medicare.gov/publications)
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Plan Finder (www.medicare.gov/plan-compare)
- Medicare.gov: How much does Medicare drug coverage cost? (www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/part-d/basics/costs)
- Medicare.gov: Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage (www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage)
- Medicare.gov: Help with drug costs (Extra Help) (www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs)
- Social Security Administration: Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs (www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help)
- Medicare.gov: What’s the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan? (www.medicare.gov/prescription-payment-plan)
- Medicare.gov: Marketing rules for health plans (www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/health-plans/your-coverage-options/plan-marketing-rules)
- Medicare.gov: Plan Non-Renewal Notice (www.medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/mailings/costs-and-coverage/change-in-plan-availability)
- Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods (www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan/special-enrollment-periods)
- Medicare.gov: When can I buy a Medigap policy? (www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy/when)
- Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse (www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse)
- Medicare.gov: Talk to someone (www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone)
- SHIP National Technical Assistance Center: Find your local SHIP (www.shiphelp.org)
