How to compare Medicare plans: the short answer
Medicare open enrollment runs Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026, and changes start Jan 1 (Medicare.gov). This year it's worth a look even if you liked your plan: the average person has 9 stand-alone drug plans to choose from in 2027, down from 11, and none has a $0 premium for people without Extra Help (KFF).
1. Read your Annual Notice of Change
Plans send it by Sept 30. It lists what changes in January: premium, drug coverage and costs, network, and more.
2. List every drug, dose, and pharmacy
Copy from the bottles, not memory, including how many you take a month. The drug list drives most of the comparison.
3. List the doctors and hospitals you won't give up
Medicare Advantage plans may require you to use their network for non-emergency care, and networks can change during the year.
4. Compare three plans in Plan Finder
Enter your drugs and pharmacies in Medicare Plan Finder and total three plans side by side. In 2027, out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs are capped at $2,400, and a drug deductible can be no more than $700.
5. Think hard before switching plan types
Moving between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage is a bigger decision than switching plans. If you leave Advantage for Original Medicare, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy later, or it may cost more, depending on your state's rules.
6. Enroll by Dec 7, then confirm
The plan must receive your request by Dec 7. Keep the confirmation number. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more change from Jan 1 to Mar 31.
Free help: your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or 1-800-MEDICARE, 24/7. Limited income? Check Extra Help.
Educational guide, not medical, financial, insurance, or legal advice. We don't sell plans. Facts checked October 7, 2026, from Medicare.gov, Medicare & You 2027, CMS, and KFF. The 2027 Part B premium had not been announced.
