Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7.
For most years, auto renewing your coverage felt like a reasonable shortcut. You receive the Annual Notice of Change, flip through it, and move on.
But not this year.
You’re going to want to take a closer look.
The prescription drug landscape is shifting again. And the changes that take effect January 1, 2027, are important enough to warrant a closer look before December 7 arrives.
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 27:12
What’s Changing for 2027
In 2026, Medicare negotiated lower prices on 10 widely used drugs—including Eliquis, Jardiance, and Entresto—producing an estimated $1.5 billion in savings for enrollees nationwide. That was just the first round.2
Round two, which takes effect January 1, 2027, covers 15 additional drugs, including GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. If you take any of these, your out-of-pocket costs may look different next year.3
The important caveat is the following: how much of that savings reaches you depends on how your specific plan structures its coverage. Not every plan passes the full benefit through to enrollees.
Mark Your Calendar1
Date | What’s Happening |
|---|---|
October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare Open Enrollment |
January 1, 2027 | New coverage begins |
January 1 – March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment |
Three Questions
In addition to reviewing the updates on prescription drugs, Medicare suggests you ask yourself three questions when you get your “Annual Notice of Change”:
Will I have the coverage I need?
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can adjust their benefits, formularies, and cost structures each year. If something in your notice looks unfamiliar, it may be worth exploring your options.
Do the numbers still work?
Estimate the health care services you expect to use next year. Check your plan’s costs. Add those costs to your monthly premium. Does that fit your budget?
Can I still see my doctors?
Provider networks shift from year to year. If your doctor or preferred pharmacy is no longer in-network, your costs can increase — and open enrollment is your opportunity to make a change.
We’re not Medicare experts, but we work with people who are.
If you have questions about your 2027 coverage, please reach out. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
- Medicare.gov, 2026
- AARP.com, December 24, 2025
- AARP.com, January 13, 2026
