Medicare’s Fall Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any changes your parent makes take effect in January 2027. If you help a parent with their health coverage, this is the window to set aside two or three evenings for.
This guide covers what the 2027 numbers look like, what to gather before you sit down with your parent, and where to get free, unbiased help. We are not Medicare counselors, and nothing here is personal advice. The goal is to help you walk into the process organized.
Key numbers at a glance
In this guide
What can change during Fall Open Enrollment?
During this window, people with Medicare can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, pick a new standalone Part D drug plan, or choose a different Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage. Staying in the current plan is also a valid choice. The Medicare Rights Center still recommends a review every fall, because health plans, costs, and individual circumstances can change from year to year.
What is different for 2027?
The Medicare Rights Center summarized new federal and KFF figures on October 1. The headline numbers are averages, so your parent’s own plan may look different.
- Fewer Medicare Advantage choices. Counting plans with and without drug coverage, the average person can choose from 35 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, down from 39 in 2026. Of those, KFF counts 28 plans that include drug coverage, down from 32.
- Slightly lower Medicare Advantage premiums. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expects the average monthly premium to fall from $14.37 to $12.00.
- Slightly higher standalone Part D premiums. The average is expected to rise from $35.09 to $36 per month.
- Part B is still unknown. The Part B premium had not been announced as of October 1. It applies to people in Original Medicare and in Medicare Advantage.
- Most people can stay put. CMS says about eight in ten Medicare Advantage enrollees can keep their current plan with the same or a lower premium.
Fewer plans means some people will not be able to keep their current coverage. They may be moved into a similar plan from the same insurer, which is why reading every notice from the plan matters this year.
What should you gather before sitting down with your parent?
Pull these together first. The review goes much faster when everything is on the table.
- Your parent’s Medicare card, and the card for any Medicare Advantage or Part D plan
- The plan’s change notice and benefits summary for 2027, usually mailed in the fall (look for anything marked “Annual Notice of Change”)
- A current list of every prescription, including the pharmacy your parent uses
- A list of doctors, specialists, and hospitals they see regularly
- A rough idea of last year’s medical costs: copays, deductibles, anything that surprised you
- Income information, in case your parent qualifies for cost-assistance programs
Keep the card numbers private. Do not post them in family group chats or email them unprotected. The medication and doctor lists are also the heart of an emergency info sheet, so it is worth capturing them once and keeping a copy:
The Aging Parent Emergency Info Sheet
Everything a paramedic, hospital, or family member needs in the first five minutes of an emergency — medications, contacts, and legal info, on one page.
Your parent has a Medicare Advantage plan? Our guide to reading the Annual Notice of Change and the 2027 Star Ratings covers what to look for in the envelope.
How do you compare plans, step by step?
- Get your parent’s permission to help. Medicare and plans will generally need your parent’s go-ahead before they discuss an account with you. Ask 1-800-MEDICARE or a local counselor (see below) how to set that up. The paperwork section of our long-distance caregiving guide covers written permission and who can decide if a parent cannot.
- Open Medicare’s Plan Finder. The official comparison tool is at medicare.gov/plan-compare. CMS says it is adding links to plan documents like drug lists and benefit summaries this fall, along with clearer messages about changes to a person’s current plan.
- Enter the real drug list and pharmacies. Costs depend heavily on which drugs are covered and where they are filled.
- Compare total yearly cost, not just the premium. Deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket limits can outweigh a low monthly premium.
- Check the network if you are looking at Medicare Advantage. Confirm your parent’s doctors and hospitals are included before switching.
- Look for extra benefits that matter to your parent. Some plans offer extras beyond Original Medicare. Check the benefits summary and confirm they are available where your parent lives.
- Check cost-assistance programs. The Medicare Rights Center suggests checking eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help (also called the Low-Income Subsidy) while you are reviewing coverage. Its October 1 article links to both programs.
Where can you get free, unbiased help?
- State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). There are 54 of them, and they offer free one-on-one Medicare counseling. Find yours at shiphelp.org.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Available around the clock, except some federal holidays.
- Medicare Rights Center helpline: 800-333-4114. Monday through Friday.
Medicare advertising is heavy this time of year. Research cited by the Medicare Rights Center notes that marketing can complicate decisions, so treat ads and sales calls as a starting point and confirm details in Plan Finder or with a SHIP counselor.
What does Medicare still not cover at home?
Open enrollment is also a good moment to separate coverage questions from product questions. Original Medicare usually does not pay for grab bars, stairlifts, ramps, or most home modifications, and plan extras vary. Our Medicare coverage guide sorts common aging-in-place products into what is typically covered, what sometimes is, and what usually comes out of pocket. If you are also thinking about safety at home, our free Home Safety Checklist is a good companion to this one.
Common questions
When does Medicare open enrollment start and end?
Fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes made during that window take effect in January 2027.
Do we need to do anything if my parent likes their current plan?
A review is still worth doing. Plans change their costs, drug coverage, and provider networks each year, and the number of Medicare Advantage plans available to the average person is dropping for 2027, so some people will not be able to keep their current plan.
Can I make changes on my parent's behalf?
Generally you will need your parent's permission first. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor to find out what your parent needs to sign or say.
Does Medicare pay for grab bars, ramps, or stairlifts?
Original Medicare usually does not pay for grab bars, ramps, stairlifts, or most other home modifications. Some Medicare Advantage plans include extra benefits, but they vary by plan and area, so check the benefits summary for the plan you are considering.
One important caveat
This guide is general information for caregivers and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. Plans, prices, and rules change, and they differ by plan and area. For decisions about your parent’s specific coverage, talk with a SHIP counselor or Medicare directly. Figures were checked on October 6, 2026 against the Medicare Rights Center’s October 1 summary, CMS, and KFF.