Key dates
- October 15 – December 7, 2026: join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan.
- January 1, 2027: new coverage starts.
- January 1 – March 31, 2027: Medicare Advantage open enrollment, when people already in an Advantage plan can make one switch.
What changes for 2027
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: rises to $2,400 in 2027 (from $2,100 in 2026), according to Medicare.gov. After you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered drugs that year.
- Part D deductible: the maximum standard deductible is $700 in 2027.
- Negotiated drug prices: a second round of Medicare-negotiated prices, including for semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus), takes effect in 2027. See our explainer.
- Plan details: premiums, networks, formularies and extra benefits such as dental change every year, so compare your plan’s Annual Notice of Change.
The 2027 Part B premium and deductible are announced by CMS each fall; check Medicare.gov for the final figures.
Your open enrollment checklist
- Read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change.
- Check your doctors and dentists are still in-network.
- Enter your prescriptions in the Medicare Plan Finder.
- If dental matters to you, compare the dental benefit details, not just whether a plan “includes dental”. See does Medicare cover dental?
- Get free, unbiased help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
General information, not medical, legal or insurance advice. This post reflects the position on the date shown. Check the official sources below for the latest rules.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
