Medicare Open Enrollment Is Underway: How to Compare 2027 Coverage

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period began October 15 and runs through December 7, giving beneficiaries an opportunity to compare and change coverage for 2027. Changes made during the period take effect January 1, provided the plan receives the enrollment request by December 7, according to Medicare.gov. The deadline is therefore about completing an enrollment request, not merely beginning a search or deciding that a different plan might be preferable.

The window follows a September 28 CMS preview projecting a decline in average Medicare Advantage premiums and a small increase in average stand-alone Part D premiums. Those national figures provide context, not an individual price quote. CMS specifically encourages people to review existing coverage and compare options because plan costs and benefits can change from year to year. The comparison should be grounded in the available plans and their coverage details.

Start With the Kind of Coverage You Have

Medicare.gov says beneficiaries can join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment, including plans with or without drug coverage. People in Original Medicare can join, drop or switch a Medicare drug plan. The period also permits a switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare. Identifying the current arrangement first helps make the comparison a concrete coverage decision rather than a search based only on advertised premiums.

There is an important qualification for people considering a return to Original Medicare. Medicare.gov says they may need a separate drug plan and may want Medicare Supplement Insurance, known as Medigap, to help pay their share of out-of-pocket costs. There are limits on when Medigap can be added. The annual opportunity to change Medicare coverage should therefore not be mistaken for an unrestricted opportunity to obtain a Medigap policy at any time.

Compare More Than the National Premium Average

CMS projects the weighted average monthly Medicare Advantage premium will decline from $14.37 in 2026 to $12 in 2027. It projects the total average monthly premium for stand-alone Part D drug plans will rise from $35.09 to $36. Those are different plan categories and should not be blended into one estimate of a beneficiary’s bill. Neither figure establishes what a particular person’s available plan will charge or what its benefits will cover.

The Medicare Plan Finder lets beneficiaries compare premiums, costs, benefits and other coverage information, CMS says. The agency also described tools to find and save providers, connect to plan formularies and Summary of Benefits documents, and see messages about changes affecting current plans. A practical review is to use those documents together: check the plan’s stated costs, the drug coverage information and the providers relevant to the comparison before submitting a change.

People who want to keep their current Medicare coverage generally do not need to re-enroll, according to CMS. That does not eliminate the value of checking the upcoming year’s terms. CMS said approximately eight in 10 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries could remain in their current plan with the same or a lower premium in 2027. That projection concerns premiums, not a guarantee that every element of coverage stays unchanged for every enrollee.

Check Assistance and Finish Before the Deadline

CMS says Medicare Savings Programs may help eligible people pay premiums and may also cover deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. Extra Help assists qualifying individuals with Part D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and other costs; people enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program automatically qualify for Extra Help. Beneficiaries can also call 1-800-MEDICARE, available around the clock, for help comparing plans and costs. After reviewing coverage and any assistance, leave time to get an enrollment request to the plan by December 7 if making a change.