If you’re on Medicare, or about to be, a handful of dates on the calendar can make a real difference in what you pay and what’s covered next year. Here’s a plain-language rundown of every Medicare enrollment window that matters in 2026, and what each one actually lets you do.
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15, December 7
This is the big one. Every fall, all Medicare beneficiaries can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (or vice versa)
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan
Any changes you make take effect January 1 of the following year. If you don’t make a change, your current plan generally continues, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check. Drug formularies, provider networks, and premiums change every year, and the best plan for you last year isn’t always the best one this year.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1, March 31
If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan and want a do-over, this window lets you switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan once, or drop Medicare Advantage entirely and return to Original Medicare (picking up a standalone Part D plan in the process). This period is only for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, it’s not open to everyone.
General Enrollment Period: January 1, March 31
Missed your Initial Enrollment Period and never signed up for Part A or Part B? This is your catch-up window. Coverage generally starts the month after you enroll, but be aware: waiting can trigger permanent late-enrollment penalties on your Part B premium for each 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t enroll.
Initial Enrollment Period: Your Personal 7-Month Window
This one is different for everyone, it’s the 7-month period centered on your 65th birthday month (3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after). This is typically the best time to enroll, since you generally get guaranteed-issue rights for a Medigap policy without health questions during this window.
What Medicare Costs in 2026
For 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month, and the annual Part B deductible is $283. The Part A deductible for an inpatient hospital stay is $1,736 per benefit period. These are the standard figures, what you actually pay depends on your income, your specific plan, and any supplemental coverage you carry.
Pro Tip: Mark your calendar for October 1. That’s roughly when plan details for the following year become available to review, giving you two weeks to research before AEP opens on October 15.
Don’t Navigate This Alone
Between plan comparisons, formulary changes, and enrollment deadlines, it’s easy to miss something that costs you money. Contact our team for a free, no-obligation Medicare review before this year’s Annual Enrollment Period closes. We’ll walk through your options together, in plain language, right here in Knoxville.
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