Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Oct. 15 — 7 Things to Check Before Keeping Your Current Plan

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, allowing beneficiaries to compare coverage for 2027. Before keeping your current plan, review premiums, prescription costs, provider networks, and changes to extra benefits. BearFotos/Shutterstock

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If you’ve been happy with your Medicare coverage this year, keeping the same plan for 2027 might seem like the easiest decision. After all, why change something that appears to be working? Unfortunately, Medicare plans can change their premiums, prescription drug coverage, provider networks, and out-of-pocket costs from one year to the next, even when you don’t make any changes yourself.