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Medicare Open Enrollment Begins With Fewer Advantage Choices and New 2026 Rules

Careful plan comparisons are essential given shifting costs and coverage.

An older man wearing glasses looks closely at his smartphone.
coffee cup with the words open enrollment on it on a table next to a magnifying glass
FILE - A page from the 2019 U.S. Medicare Handbook is displayed on Nov. 8, 2018, in Washington. About half of Medicare Advantage members left their plans by the end of five years, according to a study published in 2023. Most switched to another Medicare Advantage plan, but not necessarily because they liked Medicare Advantage. Returning to Original Medicare can be tricky after you first sign up, because you may not be able to get a Medigap plan. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
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Overview

  • The enrollment window runs Oct. 15–Dec. 7 for 2026 coverage, with changes taking effect Jan. 1 and an additional Medicare Advantage switch period from Jan. 1–Mar. 31.
  • Major insurers are scaling back Medicare Advantage offerings, with some plans eliminated and local exits such as UCare in Minnesota, as CMS projects about 5,600 plans and a modest enrollment decline to 34 million.
  • Many beneficiaries face higher costs in 2026, including an expected Part B premium of about $206.50 per month, varying Part D premiums and deductibles, and plan-level changes to networks and formularies that warrant review.
  • Key federal changes include a $2,100 annual Part D out-of-pocket cap, a $35 monthly insulin copay with no insulin deductible, negotiated prices for an initial 10 high-cost drugs, and a prior-authorization pilot for 17 services in AZ, NJ, OH, OK, TX and WA.
  • Operational frictions include slower Medicare.gov updates during the government shutdown and reduced agent participation in standalone Part D sales, so beneficiaries are urged to use SHIP counselors, confirm provider networks and check drug coverage before choosing.