Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7. It’s your yearly chance to change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Any changes you make start January 1, 2027.

Plans change every year, even if you don’t. Premiums, drug lists, and doctor networks can all shift. A quick review now can save you money and surprises next year.

What can you change during Annual Enrollment?

Between October 15 and December 7, you can:

• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
• Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
• Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan

If you’re happy with your plan and it still fits, you don’t need to do anything. Your coverage renews automatically.

Start with your Annual Notice of Change

Your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change each fall. It lists what’s different for next year, including costs, benefits, and covered drugs. Read it first. It’s the fastest way to spot problems.

Your Annual Enrollment checklist

1. Doctors and hospitals. Are your doctors still in the plan’s network for 2027? Check every specialist, not just your primary care doctor.
2. Prescriptions. Are all your medications still on the plan’s drug list? Check the tier and the co-pay for each one.
3. Pharmacy. Is your pharmacy still in network? Some plans have preferred pharmacies with lower co-pays.
4. Monthly premium. Did it go up? Remember you still pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026) on top of any plan premium.
5. Deductibles and co-pays. Look at what you’d pay for the care you actually use, like specialist visits or lab work.
6. Out-of-pocket maximum. Medicare Advantage plans cap your yearly medical costs. Check whether that cap changed.
7. Extra benefits. Dental, vision, hearing, and over-the-counter allowances can shrink or disappear. Some plans are scaling back these benefits for 2027.
8. Your health this year. A new diagnosis, a new medication, or an upcoming surgery can make a different plan the better fit.

What’s different for 2027?

The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100. The maximum Part D deductible rises to $700. Negotiated prices for 15 more drugs, including Ozempic, also take effect January 1.

What if you miss December 7?

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31. You can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare once during that window.

In New York, you can apply for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan at any time of year. Insurers can’t turn you down for health reasons.

Get a free plan review

Comparing plans takes time. We do it for you at no cost. Erie Medicare Associates reviews your doctors, prescriptions, and budget, then shows your options side by side. Schedule your free plan review or call (716) 319-4613 to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage? Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Do I have to do anything during Annual Enrollment? No. If your plan still fits your needs, it renews automatically. A review is still a good idea, since plans change every year.

Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7? Medicare Advantage members can make one change from January 1 to March 31. Some people also qualify for Special Enrollment Periods, such as after a move or when they have Medicaid or Extra Help.

If you’re still working at 65, when you need Medicare depends on your employer’s size. At companies with 20 or more employees, your work coverage usually pays first, so you can often delay Part B without a penalty. At companies with fewer than 20 employees, Medicare usually pays first, so you generally need Parts A and B at 65.

Getting this wrong can mean coverage gaps or a lifelong penalty. Here’s how to decide.

If your employer has 20 or more employees

Your group health plan is your primary coverage. You can usually delay Part B, and many people still sign up for Part A because it’s free for most.

When you or your spouse stop working, or the coverage ends, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B with no penalty. The window starts when the job or the coverage ends, whichever comes first.

If your employer has fewer than 20 employees

Medicare is your primary coverage, and your work plan pays second. If you skip Part B, your work plan may not pay for care Medicare would have covered. Most people at small employers should enroll in Parts A and B when first eligible.

Should you sign up for Part A while working?

Part A is free for most people, so many workers take it at 65. There’s one big exception. You can’t contribute to a Health Savings Account once you have any part of Medicare. Part A can start up to 6 months before the month you apply, so stop HSA contributions 6 months before you enroll.

COBRA and retiree coverage don’t count

COBRA isn’t coverage from current work. It won’t let you delay Part B without a penalty. If you’re eligible for Medicare, sign up for Part B when your job ends, even if you take COBRA.

Most retiree health plans pay after Medicare. They usually require you to have Parts A and B.

Paperwork you’ll need when you retire

To sign up for Part B later without a penalty, you’ll usually file two forms with Social Security:

1. CMS-40B, the Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B
2. CMS-L564, the Request for Employment Information, which your employer fills out to confirm your coverage

Ask HR for the L564 a few months before you retire so there’s no delay.

What about your spouse?

Medicare covers individuals, not families. If your spouse is on your work plan and is under 65, they’ll need their own coverage when you leave.

Plan your switch with a local broker

Erie Medicare Associates helps people time their move from work coverage to Medicare so there’s no gap and no penalty. Employers can also use our free HR Med-Ed Program for their teams. Planning to retire? Schedule a free consultation or call (716) 319-4613.

Frequently asked questions

Can I delay Medicare if I’m still working? Yes, if your employer has 20 or more employees and you have group coverage through current work. You can usually delay Part B without a penalty.

How long do I have to sign up for Medicare after I retire? You have 8 months from when your job or work coverage ends, whichever comes first, to enroll in Part B without a penalty.

Does COBRA count as coverage for Medicare? No. COBRA doesn’t let you delay Part B. Sign up for Part B when your job ends to avoid a late penalty.

You can first sign up for Medicare during a 7-month window around your 65th birthday. It starts 3 months before your birthday month and ends 3 months after. Signing up early, before your birthday month, means your coverage starts on time.

This checklist walks you through each step, in order.

6 months before you turn 65

• Check your current coverage. If you’re still working, ask HR how your employer plan works with Medicare.
• Stop HSA contributions on time. If you’ll enroll in Medicare, stop contributing to a Health Savings Account 6 months before you apply.
• Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You’ll use it to apply online.
• List your doctors and prescriptions. You’ll need this list to compare plans.

3 months before your birthday month

• Sign up for Part A and Part B. Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a Social Security office. If you already receive Social Security benefits, you’re enrolled automatically, and your card will arrive in the mail.
• Decide how you’ll get your coverage. Choose Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Compare plans. Look at your doctors, drugs, premiums, and total yearly costs.

Before your coverage starts

• Enroll in your plan. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans require separate enrollment once you have Part A and Part B.
• Check for help with costs. See if you qualify for Extra Help, the Medicare Savings Program, or New York’s EPIC program.
• Keep an eye out for your red, white, and blue Medicare card. Keep it with your plan card.

What happens if you sign up late?

If you miss your 7-month window and don’t have qualifying work coverage, you may pay late penalties. The Part B penalty adds 10% to your premium for each full year you went without it. Penalties usually last as long as you have Medicare.

A New York advantage

In most states, you get one 6-month window to buy a Medigap plan without health questions. New York is different. You can apply for a Medigap plan year-round, and insurers can’t charge you more based on your age or health.

Get help with your first Medicare decision

Turning 65 comes with a lot of choices. Erie Medicare Associates helps Erie County residents enroll on time and compare plans from multiple carriers, at no cost. Schedule a free consultation or call (716) 319-4613 a few months before your birthday.

Frequently asked questions

When should I sign up for Medicare if I’m turning 65? Sign up during the 3 months before your birthday month, so your coverage starts on time. Your full window is 7 months long.

Am I automatically enrolled in Medicare at 65? Yes, if you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits. If not, you need to apply through Social Security.

Do I need Medicare if I’m still working at 65? It depends on your employer’s size and your coverage. Ask HR, then talk with a broker before you decide to delay Part B.