Medicare

Medicare Open Enrollment

Can I switch from my current Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan to a plan with a “5-star” quality rating in my area outside the open enrollment period?

Oct 9, 2026

FAQs

Yes, if a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare drug plan with a 5-star rating is available in your area, there is a Special Enrollment Period that allows you to switch from your current Medicare plan to a Medicare plan with a “5-star” quality rating. You can use this Special Enrollment Period only once between December 8 and November 30 the following year.

Medicare Open Enrollment and Coverage Options: Key Questions and Answers

Each year, Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity to make changes to how they receive their Medicare coverage during the nearly 8-week annual open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7. This brief answers key questions about the Medicare open enrollment period and Medicare coverage options.

How Much Do People with Medicare Pay for Coverage?

Many Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Drug Plan Enrollees Will See Modest Premium Increases for 2027

The Average Medicare Beneficiary has 28 Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan Options for 2027

Medicare Open Enrollment FAQs

Medigap

74% of Medicare Advantage Enrollees Could be Denied a Medigap Policy Due to a Pre-Existing Condition

This analysis examines the share of Medicare Advantage enrollees who have a pre-existing condition that could result in a Medigap denial if they seek to switch to traditional Medicare, including estimates by age and by state.

Medigap Guaranteed Issue Requirements: An Overview of Federal and State Rules

This issue brief analyzes federal and state rules related to guaranteed issue requirements for Medigap policies and how they impact beneficiaries’ access to Medigap, including the implications for Medicare beneficiaries with pre-existing medical conditions and those under age 65 with long-term disabilities.

Key Facts About Medigap Enrollment and Premiums for Medicare Beneficiaries

This brief presents facts about Medigap, including the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with a Medigap policy, variation in Medigap enrollment by state, and Medigap premiums.

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Key Facts About Medicare Spending Trends and Projections from the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report

This brief provides an overview of key trends in Medicare spending and spending growth, as well as the impact of these trends on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries and Medicare program solvency, as projected by the Medicare Trustees in the 2026 Trustees Report.

Key Facts About Health Care Affordability for People With Medicare

This brief presents key facts and analysis about affordability of health care costs among people with Medicare, including younger adults with long-term disabilities, drawing on data from various sources.

Decoding Medicare Advantage Coding Intensity

Federal payments to Medicare Advantage plans, and adjustments for health status, have come under increased scrutiny. This brief answers key questions about coding intensity, recent steps taken by CMS, the effects on beneficiaries, and other proposals to improve payment accuracy.

An image of text is an excerpt from Juliette Cubanski's quick take which reads, "According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the $90 payments being sent in early October will make Medicare "more affordable" for enrollees. But, as with the earlier proposal, this one-time payment may not go far at offsetting rising costs for health care and other everyday essentials."

The Trump Administration’s $90 Payment to Medicare Beneficiaries May Not Offset Rising Costs

Medicare’s standard Part B premium is $2,435 this year and is projected to increase by $79 annually for 2027 – meaning this increase alone would consume most of the $90 payment, which less than half of all beneficiaries will receive.

Data Visualization

The Facts About Medicare Spending

This interactive provides the facts on Medicare spending. Medicare, which serves 67 million people and accounts for 12 percent of the federal budget and 21 percent of national health spending, is often the focus of discussions about health expenditures, health care affordability and the sustainability of federal health programs. Explore data on enrollment growth, Medicare spending trends overall and per person, growth in Medicare spending relative to private insurance, spending on benefits and Medicare Advantage, Part A trust fund solvency challenges, and growth in out-of-pocket spending by beneficiaries.

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