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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
When Can You Change Medicare Part D Plans 2027? A Month-by-Month Calendar
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 30, 2026
You can change Medicare Part D plans for 2027 during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, with the new plan starting January 1, 2027. After that, changes are limited to the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31, 2027, for Medicare Advantage members) or a special enrollment period tied to a life event or to Extra Help.
2027 by the Numbers
Dec 7, 2026
last day to switch for a January 1, 2027 start (Medicare.gov)
Mar 31, 2027
end of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Medicare.gov)
1 per month
plan changes allowed for people with Extra Help or Medicaid (Medicare.gov)
323
standalone drug plans filed for 2027 nationwide (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
Part D is not like a phone plan you can cancel any day. Medicare locks most people into their drug plan for the calendar year and opens the door at set times. Knowing which door is open, and what start date it gives you, is the difference between a smooth switch and a month without coverage.
Below is a calendar that runs from today through the end of 2027, followed by the rules for each window. For the 2027 cost changes that may make you want to switch, start with our Medicare Part D plans 2027 guide and our Medicare Part D premium 2027 page.
Key Takeaways
- October 15 to December 7, 2026 is the main window; any number of changes are allowed, and the last one counts.
- January 1 to March 31, 2027 allows one change, but only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- If you are in Original Medicare with a standalone drug plan, the January to March window does not let you swap drug plans.
- People with Extra Help or Medicaid can switch standalone drug plans once each month.
- Outside these windows, you need a qualifying life event.
The 2027 Part D Change Calendar
This calendar lists the regular windows that apply to the 2027 plan year in date order, from the current fall season through the next one. Each row shows who can use the window and when the new plan begins.
| Dates | Window | Who can use it | New plan starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026 | Open Enrollment Period | Anyone with Medicare | January 1, 2027 |
| Dec 8, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 | Non-renewal SEP | People whose plan is not coming back for 2027 | First of the month after you join |
| Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Medicare Advantage members only, one change | First of the month after you switch |
| Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027 | General Enrollment Period for Part B | People signing up late for Part B; a Part D window follows | Depends on Part B start |
| Every month of 2027 | Extra Help / Medicaid monthly SEP | People with Extra Help or Medicaid | First of the next month |
| Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2027 | Next Open Enrollment Period | Anyone with Medicare | January 1, 2028 |
Dates from Medicare.gov enrollment rules applied to the 2027 plan year. Life-event SEPs can open at any time and are not shown here.
Today: It is late October 2026, so the Open Enrollment Period is open now and runs through December 7.
Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7, 2026
This is the one window everyone with Medicare gets. You can join a drug plan for the first time, move to a different one, switch between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a drug plan, or drop drug coverage. You can make as many changes as you want; the last choice you make by December 7 is the one that takes effect January 1, 2027.
Good reasons to change this fall
✔
Your plan’s 2027 premium or deductible went up in its Annual Notice of Change
✔
One of your drugs moved to a higher tier or left the drug list
✔
Your pharmacy is no longer preferred or in network
✔
Your plan is not renewed for 2027
With the standard deductible rising to $700 and the out-of-pocket cap to $2,400 in 2027, plan costs may shift more than usual. Our Medicare Part D open enrollment 2027 page covers this season in more detail.
What a Switch Looks Like by Company
Many people switch to another plan from the same company, often from a richer plan to a lower-cost one or the reverse. Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings shows how the big sponsors line up their standalone plans. Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly, and some plans are sold only in certain regions.
| Sponsor | 2027 standalone plan names | 2027 filings |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | Basic Rx, Value Rx, Premier Rx | 102 |
| UnitedHealthcare | Medicare Rx Saver from UHC, Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC | 73 |
| Wellcare | Classic, Value Script | 68 |
| HealthSpring | Assurance Rx, Extra Rx | 40 |
| Aetna | SilverScript Choice | 20 |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings for individual standalone PDPs (323 nationwide). Benefits and premiums vary by plan and region.
A switch inside the same company follows the same timing rules as any other switch. There is no separate window for changing plans with your current insurer.
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January to March 2027: Who Can and Cannot Switch
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31, 2027. It is often described as a second chance, but it is narrower than many people think.
Can use it
✔
People in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1
✔
To switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan
✔
To leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare and add a standalone drug plan
✔
One change only
Cannot use it
✔
People in Original Medicare with a standalone drug plan
✔
To swap one standalone drug plan for another
✔
To move from Original Medicare into Medicare Advantage
✔
To make a second change in the same season
Common trap: If you have Original Medicare and a standalone drug plan, a mistake you notice in January usually has to wait until the next fall unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. That makes the December 7 deadline the one that matters most.
Changing Mid-Year With Extra Help or Medicaid
People who get Extra Help or have Medicaid have the most flexible schedule. Since 2025 they can make one change per calendar month, and the new coverage starts on the first of the next month.
1
Pick the new plan Choose a standalone drug plan that covers your drugs and, ideally, has a premium your Extra Help fully pays.
2
Enroll by the end of the month A request made in May 2027, for example, usually starts June 1, 2027.
3
Know the limit This monthly option moves you into a standalone drug plan with Original Medicare; it cannot be used to join a Medicare Advantage plan.
More on the program itself is on our Extra Help Medicare Part D 2027 page.
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Changes Triggered by Life Events
Outside the set windows, you need a special enrollment period. These open when something changes, such as a move, the end of job-based coverage, or a stay in a nursing home. Each one has its own deadline, usually two full months after the event.
Any month
Life-event windows can open at any point in 2027
2 months
Typical time to act after the event
1st of month
Usual start date after the plan gets your request
We cover each event and its deadline on our Medicare Part D special enrollment period 2027 page. One 2027 detail: CMS rated no standalone drug plan contract at 5 stars for 2027, so the 5-star special window is unlikely to be a route to a different standalone plan this year.
How to Switch Without a Coverage Gap
Switching is mostly paperwork, but the order matters. In most cases you do not cancel the old plan yourself; joining the new plan ends the old one when the new one starts.
1
Check the new plan first Confirm your drugs, doses and pharmacy are covered for 2027.
2
Join the new plan Enroll online, by phone or on paper during an open window.
3
Do not cancel the old plan Medicare ends the old plan automatically when the new one begins.
4
Watch for the welcome letter The new plan sends a confirmation with your start date and a member card.
5
Refill with the new card Use the new card for fills on or after the start date.
Medicare Advantage members: Joining a standalone drug plan while in most Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage moves you out of that Medicare Advantage plan and back to Original Medicare. Make sure that is what you want.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
For the 2027 plan year, the main chance to change Part D plans ends December 7, 2026. After that, only Medicare Advantage members get a January to March switch, people with Extra Help or Medicaid can change monthly, and everyone else needs a life event to open a window.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
➤ Can I change my Part D plan any time in 2027?
Not usually. Most people can change only from October 15 to December 7, unless they have Extra Help or Medicaid or a qualifying life event opens a special enrollment period.
➤ What is the deadline to change Part D plans for 2027?
The Open Enrollment Period ends December 7, 2026. A change made by then takes effect January 1, 2027.
➤ If I change my mind after joining a plan in November, can I switch again?
Yes. During the Open Enrollment Period you can change as often as you like, and the last plan you choose by December 7 is the one you will have on January 1.
➤ Can I switch standalone drug plans between January and March 2027?
Only in limited cases. The January to March window is for people in Medicare Advantage plans. If you have Original Medicare and a standalone drug plan, you generally need Extra Help, Medicaid or a life event to switch.
➤ When does a new Part D plan start if I switch mid-year?
Usually on the first day of the month after the plan gets your request. A switch in April 2027, for example, would generally start May 1, 2027.
➤ Do I need to cancel my old Part D plan when I switch?
No. When you join a new Part D plan, Medicare ends your old plan on the day the new one starts. Canceling first can leave you with a gap.
➤ What happens if my plan leaves Medicare for 2027?
You can pick a new plan during Open Enrollment, and you also get a special window that lasts until the last day of February 2027. Choosing before December 31 avoids a gap.
➤ Can I switch Part D plans with the same insurance company?
Yes, but the same timing rules apply. You can move between a company’s plans during Open Enrollment or another window you qualify for.
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