WASHINGTON, D.C. — Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period is officially underway, running now through December 7. All current Medicare beneficiaries are urged to review their coverage options, even if they are satisfied with their current plan, as benefits and costs often change from year to year.
Beneficiaries can compare all available health and drug plans by visiting Medicare.gov/plan-compare.
Why You Must Compare Your Options
Medicare officials emphasize that checking your options is critical, as a plan that works well this year may not be the most cost-effective choice for 2026.
- Check for Changes: Your current plan may have changed its premiums, co-pays, or covered drugs, which could significantly affect your total out-of-pocket costs next year.
- Compare Total Costs: When shopping, it’s essential to look beyond the monthly premium. Compare the estimated “Total Drug & Premium Cost” for the year, as the plan with the lowest monthly payment might not offer the lowest overall total cost based on your specific health and prescription needs.
- Quality Ratings: You can also check star ratings to compare the quality and performance of different health and drug plans available in your area.
How to Get the Best Comparison
To streamline the shopping process and receive the most accurate cost estimates, beneficiaries are encouraged to log in or create an account at Medicare.gov/plan-compare.
Once logged in, users can:
- See their current coverage changes immediately.
- Update their list of drugs and preferred pharmacies to get a precise estimate of annual prescription drug costs. Drug costs can vary substantially based on which pharmacy a beneficiary uses.
- Compare the benefits and costs of their current plan with all other local options.
The Open Enrollment Period is the main opportunity each year to switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, change Advantage Plans, or enroll in a new prescription drug plan (Part D). The deadline for enrollment changes is December 7.
