Medicare Choices Matter More This Year

Keeping a trusted doctor. Affording a prescription. Knowing what a hospital stay could cost. Those everyday concerns are at the heart of Medicare’s annual open enrollment—and this year, setting aside time to compare coverage could be especially worthwhile.

Open enrollment begins Thursday, Oct. 15, and continues through Monday, Dec. 7, 2026. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. During that window, people with Medicare can change Medicare Advantage plans, switch prescription drug plans, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

The reason to look carefully: A plan that worked well this year may have different costs, benefits or coverage next year.

According to KFF, the nonprofit health policy research organization, stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans will decline from 360 nationwide in 2026 to 316 in 2027. The average beneficiary will have nine choices, down from 11. These plans provide drug coverage separately from Original Medicare.

Fewer choices do not mean everyone will pay more. Federal officials project the average monthly stand-alone drug-plan premium will rise by less than $1. But KFF found that some people could face increases exceeding $50 a month if they keep their current plan. National averages cannot tell someone what will happen to their own bill.

Start with the Annual Notice of Change, the document Medicare Advantage and drug plans send each fall. It explains changes taking effect in January. If it has disappeared into a stack of mail—or never arrived—ask the plan for another copy.

Then gather a current medication list, including dosages, along with the names of preferred pharmacies and doctors. Use the plan finder at Medicare.gov to compare available coverage.

Look beyond the monthly premium. Check whether each prescription is covered, what it will cost and whether a different pharmacy offers a better price. Compare the estimated annual expense, including premiums, deductibles and prescription payments. A lower monthly charge does not necessarily mean a cheaper year.

For Medicare Advantage—the private-plan alternative to Original Medicare—confirm that preferred doctors, specialists and hospitals will participate in the specific plan for 2027. Check with both the plan and the provider’s office. Review referral requirements, approvals needed before certain treatments and the annual limit on covered medical expenses. A plan advertised with a $0 premium still generally requires payment of the Medicare Part B premium and can have other costs.

Prescription expenses deserve particular attention. In 2027, annual out-of-pocket spending for covered Part D drugs will be capped at $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. That protection does not include monthly premiums or medications the plan does not cover.

Anyone considering leaving Medicare Advantage should check supplemental coverage before making the switch. Fall enrollment does not automatically guarantee the right to buy Medigap, insurance that helps pay Original Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and applicable protections; people whose plans are discontinued may have additional rights.

For Coachella Valley residents, help is available without having to navigate everything alone. California’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, known as HICAP, offers free, confidential Medicare counseling at 800-434-0222. Medicare also provides assistance at 800-633-4227.

The goal is coverage that fits your health, your budget and the people you depend on for care. Begin early, ask questions and give yourself time to make that choice.