Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7: A Quick Checklist

If your parent has Medicare, the clock is running. Open enrollment goes from October 15 to December 7, and anything changed by December 7, 2026 takes effect January 1, 2027.

What can change during this window

Your parent can switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan, change Advantage plans, or join, change, or drop a standalone Part D drug plan. Medigap policies aren't part of this window. There's a separate Advantage window from January 1 to March 31, but it only applies to people already in an Advantage plan.

Even if the plan seems fine

Plans change their drug lists, networks, and costs every year, so a plan that worked last year may not work now. It's worth checking before the deadline, not after.

A short checklist

  • Read the annual Notice of Change your parent's plan mailed out.
  • Confirm their doctors and every prescription are still covered.
  • Compare estimated total yearly costs in Medicare's Plan Finder, not just the monthly premium.
  • Don't go without drug coverage, since late-enrollment penalties can follow.
  • Use free help from Illinois SHIP or your local Area Agency on Aging if the comparison gets overwhelming.

Watch for scams

This is peak scam season. Never give a Medicare number to someone who calls you first.

Read the full guide: Medicare Open Enrollment 2026, What to Do by Dec 7, which includes costs, local help in the Chicago suburbs, and more.

More at genxlifehub.org. This is general information, not medical or financial advice. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.

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