Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Key Dates, What’s Changing, and How to Avoid Pushy Sales Calls

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 runs Oct 15–Dec 7. Learn what’s changing this year, what you can switch, and how to spot pushy or fake Medicare sales calls

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When Is Medicare Open Enrollment in 2026?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) — sometimes called Medicare Open Enrollment — runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Any changes you make during this window take effect on January 1, 2027.

This is different from the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), which only lets you make one plan switch and doesn’t allow you to add drug coverage from scratch. The fall window is the big one — it’s when you have the most freedom to change your coverage.

What You Can Actually Change During AEP

During this period, you’re allowed to:

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

You don’t have to make any changes. If your current plan still works for you, you can simply do nothing and stay enrolled. But it’s still worth a quick review every year, because plan costs, drug coverage, and provider networks can shift from one year to the next.

What’s New for 2026

A few things are different this enrollment season, and they’re worth knowing before you make a decision:

Part B costs have gone up. The standard monthly Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90, up from $185.00 in 2025. The annual Part B deductible is now $283.

Plan quality ratings changed. CMS (the federal agency that runs Medicare) adjusted how it calculates Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans this year, removing some of the quality measures it used before. In practice, this means a plan’s star rating this year may not fully reflect the same things it did last year — so it’s worth looking past the star score and checking the actual plan details, like your specific drugs and doctors.

Marketing rules for agents have loosened. Starting October 1, 2026, CMS relaxed some of the restrictions that previously limited how often and how aggressively licensed agents could contact Medicare beneficiaries. This is the part that matters most for your inbox and your phone this fall.

Why You’ll Probably Get More Calls and Mail This Year

Because of the loosened marketing rules, insurance agents and brokers now have more room to reach out to you directly — by phone, mail, and in person — during this AEP. Some of these calls will be from legitimate, licensed agents genuinely trying to help. But this same environment also makes it easier for scammers to blend in, since a slightly aggressive or repeated call can seem “normal” for the season.

This doesn’t mean every call is a scam. It means it’s worth knowing how to tell the difference.

Signs a Medicare Call or Offer Isn’t Legitimate

• The caller says they’re from “Medicare” directly — Medicare itself does not cold-call you to sell plans
• You’re pressured to decide on the spot or told the offer expires “today only”
• You’re asked for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details over the phone
• The caller claims you’ll lose your benefits if you don’t switch plans immediately
• You receive a plan you never signed up for, or your current plan changes without your consent

How to Verify a Real Agent

• Ask for their name, license number, and the company they represent, then look them up independently
• Hang up and call the plan or Medicare directly using the number on your card or Medicare.gov — not a number the caller gives you
• Remember that a real licensed agent will not mind you taking time to verify them

If something feels off, it’s completely fine to hang up, wait, and call back later on your own terms. You are never required to make an on-the-spot decision.

A Simple Way to Review Your Coverage Before December 7

You don’t need to compare every plan in your state. A short review is usually enough:

1. Check your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — your current plan mails this every September, and it lists what’s changing for next year.
2. List your regular medications and confirm they’re still covered at a similar cost under your current plan.
3. Confirm your doctors are still in-network, especially if you’re on a Medicare Advantage plan.
4. Compare total cost, not just premium — factor in deductibles, copays, and drug costs together.
5. Use Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder or call 1-800-MEDICARE if you want to compare options without going through a salesperson.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

If you don’t make any changes by December 7, your current coverage simply continues into the new year — as long as your plan isn’t being discontinued. If your plan is closing, you’ll usually be notified in advance and given a separate enrollment window.

Outside of AEP, you generally can’t switch Medicare Advantage or Part D plans again until the next enrollment period, except in specific situations like moving to a new state or qualifying for a Special Enrollment Period.

For citations inside the article

• https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/enroll/annual-enrollment-period
• https://www.cms.gov/newsroom (for the 2026 marketing rule and Star Ratings changes)
• https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/ (Plan Finder tool, safe to link as “Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder”)