# When does Medicare open enrollment end?

*A plan must receive a request to join by December 7, and coverage chosen during the period starts on January 1 of the next year.*

- Type: Explainer
- Section: Health
- By: Health Desk
- Published: 2026-11-11T22:26:21-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T22:26:21-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/health/when-does-medicare-open-enrollment-end/

## Key facts

- Medicare open enrollment ends on December 7. The period runs from October 15 to December 7 every year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. Source: [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services](https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/medicare-open-enrollment-partner-resources). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:26:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/when-does-medicare-open-enrollment-end/#medicare-open-enrollment-ends-on-december-7-the-period-runs
- Coverage chosen during the Open Enrollment Period starts on January 1 of the next year, and the plan must get the request to join by December 7. Source: [Medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:26:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/when-does-medicare-open-enrollment-end/#coverage-chosen-during-the-open-enrollment-period-starts-on
- On November 11, 2026, the Medicare.gov home page said open enrollment was under way through December 7 and that 2027 health and drug plans could be compared. Source: [Medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:26:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/when-does-medicare-open-enrollment-end/#on-november-11-2026-the-medicare-gov-home-page-said-open
- People already in a Medicare Advantage Plan have a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31. Source: [Medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:26:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/when-does-medicare-open-enrollment-end/#people-already-in-a-medicare-advantage-plan-have-a-separate

Medicare open enrollment ends on December 7. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [said](https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/medicare-open-enrollment-partner-resources) the period runs from October 15 to December 7 every year, and Medicare.gov [said](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan) a plan must get a request to join by December 7. On November 11, 2026, the [Medicare.gov home page](https://www.medicare.gov/) said open enrollment was under way through December 7 and that 2027 health and drug plans could be compared.

## The dates

The dates in this table come from the [Joining a plan](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan) page on Medicare.gov.

| Period | Dates | Coverage starts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Open Enrollment Period | October 15 to December 7 | January 1 of the next year |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 to March 31 | First of the month after the plan gets the request |

## What can be changed before December 7

The agency [said](https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/medicare-open-enrollment-partner-resources) October 15 to December 7 is when all people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year. Medicare.gov [lists](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan) three kinds of change for the period:

- Join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage.
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.
- Join, drop or switch to another Medicare drug plan, for people in Original Medicare.

People whose current plan is still offered and still meets their needs do not need to do anything, the agency [said](https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/medicare-open-enrollment-partner-resources).

## After December 7

Two other periods on the [same Medicare.gov page](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan) fall outside this window. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, from January 1 to March 31, is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage Plan. They can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan or drop the plan and return to Original Medicare, and those who return can also join a separate Medicare drug plan.

A Special Enrollment Period is available only in certain situations, such as moving to a new address or getting Extra Help to pay drug costs, and its timing varies, the page says.

This deadline is separate from the one for Marketplace plans, which is covered in [When is the HealthCare.gov open enrollment deadline?](/health/when-is-the-healthcare-gov-open-enrollment-deadline/)

## Sources

1. [Joining a plan](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan), Medicare.gov, 2026-11-11 (primary source)
2. [Medicare Open Enrollment](https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/medicare-open-enrollment-partner-resources), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2026-11-11 (primary source)
3. [Medicare.gov home page](https://www.medicare.gov/), Medicare.gov, 2026-11-11 (primary source)