FrugalForge's Open Enrollment Checklist: 7 Things to Check Before Dec 7
Facts checked Oct. 26, 2026 against Medicare.gov. Educational information only.
Before you start: This page is general education, not insurance advice, and it doesn't recommend any plan or company. For free, one-on-one help, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048) or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at shiphelp.org. FrugalForge is independent and not affiliated with Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or any government agency. Near the end we link to a printable checklist that we make and sell ourselves.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. Changes you make take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Medicare.gov says the plan must get your enrollment request by Dec. 7 (Medicare.gov, Open Enrollment, checked Oct. 26, 2026).
If you do nothing and your plan is still offered next year, you'll usually stay in it. That can be fine. But plans can change their costs, drug lists and networks every year. So a short yearly check is worth an afternoon. Here are seven things to look at, in order.
1. Read your Annual Notice of Change
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan or a drug plan, your plan sends a "Plan Annual Notice of Change" (ANOC) each fall, usually in September. It lists the changes in coverage and costs that start in January (Medicare.gov, ANOC, checked Oct. 26, 2026).
Look for changes to the monthly premium, the deductible, copays, and the drug list. Didn't get it? Medicare.gov says to contact your plan.
2. Check every drug on next year's list
Write down every prescription you take, with the dose. Then check each one on the plan's 2027 drug list (the formulary). A drug can move to a different price tier, or come off the list.
Medicare.gov's Plan Finder lets you add all the drugs you take regularly. That gives you the most accurate yearly cost estimate for each plan (Medicare.gov, Joining a plan, checked Oct. 26, 2026).
Some 2027 drug-cost limits are already set. No Medicare drug plan may have a deductible over $700 in 2027 ($615 in 2026). And the out-of-pocket cap on covered Part D drugs is $2,400 in 2027 ($2,100 in 2026). Once you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of that year (Medicare.gov, Part D costs, checked Oct. 26, 2026). Your own costs below those limits still depend on the plan.
3. Confirm your doctors and pharmacy
Medicare.gov suggests asking your doctors and pharmacies whether they're in network with the plan (Medicare.gov, Joining a plan). Ask them directly, since a call can catch a change a list might miss. Check your hospital and any specialists too.
Spend part of the year in another state? Medicare.gov also suggests checking whether the plan covers you there.
4. Compare the total yearly cost, not just the premium
A $0-premium plan isn't always the cheapest plan for you. Medicare.gov suggests reviewing premiums, deductibles, and the estimated yearly cost of the drugs you take (Medicare.gov, Joining a plan).
Add those up for each plan you're considering. You can compare plans at Medicare.gov/plan-compare.
One number to leave blank for now: the 2027 Part B premium hasn't been announced as of Oct. 26, 2026. Medicare.gov still shows 2026 amounts. Any 2027 Part B figure you see before CMS announces it is only a projection.
5. Know the drug-plan trap if you're in Medicare Advantage
This one surprises people. Say you're in a Medicare Advantage plan and you join a separate drug plan. Medicare.gov says you'll generally be dropped from your Advantage plan and switched to Original Medicare. That means your medical coverage changes, not just your drugs. A few plan types are exceptions, such as certain Private Fee-for-Service, Medical Savings Account, Cost and employer plans (Medicare.gov, Choose how you get drug coverage, checked Oct. 26, 2026).
If you're thinking about leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, also look at Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) before you switch. Outside a few protected situations, a Medigap company can turn you down or charge more because of your health. Medicare.gov describes a "trial right" for some people in their first year of Medicare Advantage (Medicare.gov, How Medigap works; Choosing a Medigap Policy, checked Oct. 26, 2026). Rules vary by state, so ask your SHIP.
Going without drug coverage has its own cost. If you go 63 or more days in a row without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable coverage, you may owe a late enrollment penalty. It's added to your premium for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage (Medicare.gov, Part D costs).
6. Use the free help (and watch for scams)
You don't have to do this alone, and you don't have to pay anyone.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048) can help you compare plans and can enroll you.
- Your local SHIP gives free, one-on-one counseling. Medicare.gov notes that SHIPs aren't connected to any insurance company or plan (Medicare.gov, Joining a plan). Find yours at shiphelp.org.
Scammers know this is a busy season. Medicare.gov says Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at home. It also says not to join a plan by phone unless you called and asked for help (Medicare.gov, Reporting fraud, checked Oct. 26, 2026). If a call feels off, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
7. Enroll early, keep proof, and know what comes after Dec. 7
If you decide to switch, Medicare.gov lists three ways to join: choose "Enroll" on Medicare.gov/plan-compare, contact the plan, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. If you use a paper form, the plan must get it before the enrollment period ends (Medicare.gov, Joining a plan). A form mailed on Dec. 7 may arrive too late, so give yourself a cushion.
Write down any confirmation number. Then watch the mail for your new plan's materials.
Missed Dec. 7? You still have options in some cases:
- Already in Medicare Advantage? From Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or drop it and return to Original Medicare. If you go back to Original Medicare, you can also join a separate drug plan.
- Had a life change? A Special Enrollment Period may apply. Examples include a move, losing or changing coverage, or getting Medicaid or Extra Help (Medicare.gov, Joining a plan).
Not sure which applies to you? Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your SHIP and describe your situation.
Want it on paper?
Printable 2027 Open Enrollment checklist (our own product, $9). Our sister brand, Retirement Made Simple, sells a 14-page printable checklist. It has a drug-list worksheet, a plan comparison sheet, key dates and scam red flags. Disclosure: we make and sell this guide ourselves, so we earn money if you buy it. It's independent and not affiliated with Medicare, CMS or any government agency. Everything in it is also free from Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE and your SHIP. You don't need it to get help.
Prefer something free? Our one-page Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 key dates sheet is a free PDF.
Not insurance advice. This page is general educational information, not financial, legal or insurance advice, and it doesn't recommend any plan or insurance company. Rules and figures change, so check Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your SHIP (shiphelp.org) before you decide. FrugalForge is independent and not affiliated with Medicare, CMS, HHS, the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Facts checked Oct. 26, 2026.
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