A plan can look inexpensive on the first screen and become much less attractive once you enter your prescriptions or check a specialist. The useful comparison is the one built around the care you expect to use.
Fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, for coverage beginning January 1, 2027. Medicare's calendar opens comparison of 2027 options on October 1. That gives you time to investigate before choosing a plan.
Start with the same information for every plan
Have your medication names, doses, refill quantities and preferred pharmacies in front of you. Then compare the available 2027 plans on Medicare.gov, using the same information for each option. Make sure the year selected is 2027 before saving a result.
Keep your current plan in the comparison if it remains available. Its Annual Notice of Change can help you identify what is changing, rather than assuming the coverage you liked this year will continue on the same terms.
Compare the estimated annual premium and drug cost, not just the monthly plan premium. A lower premium can be offset by what you pay at the pharmacy. Also check whether a drug has coverage restrictions and whether the pharmacy you would actually use has the quoted price. Our guide to reducing prescription costs explains why that pharmacy choice can matter.
Confirm access to the care you already use
For Medicare Advantage, check the exact plan's network for your doctors, hospitals and other important providers. A familiar insurer's name does not establish that your doctor participates in every plan it sells.
Verify the specific 2027 plan with both the insurer and the provider's office. Record the plan name and identifier when asking. “Do you take Medicare?” is too broad a question to settle whether a particular Medicare Advantage plan will cover a routine appointment there.
Read the plan documents for referral and prior authorization requirements relevant to your care. If you spend part of the year elsewhere, consider how routine treatment would work in that location. Our article on health coverage when moving states discusses why location can change the available options.
Allow for a year with more medical care
Drug estimates cannot tell you the entire cost of a Medicare Advantage plan. Look at charges for the services you expect to use and the plan's limit for covered medical out-of-pocket expenses. Check which expenses count toward that limit; premiums, drug spending and noncovered services should not simply be folded into it.
A $0 plan premium does not mean $0 health care costs. Include the Part B premium unless a specific arrangement reduces it, as well as the other costs that apply to your coverage. If comparing Original Medicare with Medicare Advantage, include the separate drug and supplemental coverage you would actually buy on the Original Medicare side.
Suppose a lower-premium option saves $240 a year. Write that saving beside the charges you could face for the visits or treatment you expect. The $240 is a hypothetical comparison aid, not a quoted 2027 plan price. It helps keep a small visible saving in proportion to the rest of the decision.
Resolve the unanswered question before enrolling
If one plan looks promising except for an unclear drug restriction or specialist's status, settle that point before submitting an enrollment request. A State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor can help you work through the comparison; you can find local Medicare counseling through the SHIP website.
Fall enrollment does not automatically guarantee access to a Medigap policy. If your plan involves returning to Original Medicare and buying supplemental coverage, establish your Medigap options first. The difference between fall enrollment and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is also worth understanding before treating January as a second chance to make any change.
