Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: A Five-Minute Cheat Sheet for Michigan

Last updated: October 2, 2026

Medicare open enrollment in Michigan for 2027 coverage runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. This five-minute cheat sheet is for Michigan Medicare members who want to know what they can change, which dates matter and how to check whether their current plan still fits.

Reviewed by Samantha Lewis, Founder & Insurance Advisor, NABIP Medicare Certified — Samantha Lewis Agency, Livonia, MI.

When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027?

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period, often called Medicare open enrollment, runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Any plan change you make in that window takes effect on January 1, 2027. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance to make a change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.

• Oct 15, 2026 — Annual Enrollment Period opens.
• Dec 7, 2026 — Last day to make Annual Enrollment Period changes.
• Jan 1, 2027 — New plan choices take effect.
• Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027 — Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Advantage members can make one change.

Dates are from Medicare.gov. If you make a change on December 1, for example, your current plan continues through December 31 and the new plan starts January 1.

What can you change during the Annual Enrollment Period?

During the Annual Enrollment Period you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or back, move from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, and join, drop or switch a Part D prescription drug plan. It is the main yearly window for most Michigan Medicare members to change plans without needing a special qualifying event.

You can

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop or switch a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

Not part of this window

• Medigap changes. Medicare Supplement policies follow their own rules. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment, an insurer may ask health questions before accepting you.
• First-time sign-up for Parts A and B. That happens during your Initial Enrollment Period around age 65, or the General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31.

Why review your plan if nothing seems broken?

Medicare plans can change every year, even when your own needs stay the same. A plan’s drug list, pharmacy network, provider network, premiums, deductibles and copays can all shift for 2027. A plan that worked well in 2026 may cost more or cover less next year, so a quick review before December 7 protects you from surprises.

• Drug list (formulary): a medication can be dropped or moved to a higher cost tier.
• Networks: doctors, hospitals and pharmacies join and leave plan networks.
• Costs: carriers reset premiums, deductibles and copays every year.

Your five-step Medicare open enrollment checklist

1. Read your Annual Notice of Change. It explains what your plan is changing for 2027. Note anything that affects your premium, copays, drugs or doctors.
2. Check your doctors and pharmacies. Confirm that your primary care doctor, specialists, hospital and pharmacy are still in network for 2027.
3. Run your drug list. Enter each prescription with its dose and how often you take it. Part D has an annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs, set by Medicare each year, but plans still differ in which drugs they cover and at what tier.
4. Compare total yearly cost. Add premiums, deductibles, copays and expected drug costs. The plan with the lowest premium is not always the lowest-cost plan for the year.
5. Compare Medicare Advantage and Medigap. Decide whether you prefer lower premiums with a network or Original Medicare with a Medigap policy and more predictable costs. Moving to Medigap may involve health questions, so ask early.

Before your review, gather your Medicare and plan cards, your medication list with doses, and the names of your doctors. For a fuller explanation of each part of Medicare, see our Medicare broker page for Livonia, MI.

What if you miss the December 7 deadline?

If you miss December 7, your current plan generally continues into 2027. Medicare Advantage members can still make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027. Otherwise, you may need a Special Enrollment Period, which requires a qualifying situation such as moving out of your plan’s service area. If none applies, you would wait until next fall.

Where can Michigan residents get free Medicare help?

Michigan residents have two kinds of free help. MMAP, the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, offers free, unbiased counseling. A licensed independent broker such as Samantha Lewis Agency in Livonia can compare plans from multiple carriers and handle your enrollment, and that help usually costs you nothing extra because insurers pay the broker.

Our office is at 39293 Plymouth Rd STE 139 in Livonia, and Samantha Lewis is NABIP Medicare Certified. We shop coverage across 15+ carriers licensed in Michigan. Meet our team, or if you are under 65 and shopping for 2027 coverage, see our guide to health insurance open enrollment in Michigan.

Frequently asked questions

When will my 2027 Annual Notice of Change arrive?

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans send an Annual Notice of Change each fall, usually in September, before the Annual Enrollment Period opens. It lists what is changing in your plan for 2027, including premiums, copays, covered drugs and networks. If you cannot find yours, call your plan or bring your plan name to your review.

Do I have to do anything if I want to keep my current plan?

Usually not. If your plan is still offered in 2027 and you are happy with the changes in your Annual Notice of Change, you generally stay enrolled automatically. If your plan is ending, you should receive a notice explaining your options, and it is worth comparing replacements before December 7.

Can I make more than one change during the Annual Enrollment Period?

You can make changes more than once during the Annual Enrollment Period. Generally, the last plan choice you make by December 7, 2026, is the one that takes effect on January 1, 2027. To avoid confusion, it helps to compare carefully first and then make one clear decision.

Does the Annual Enrollment Period apply to Medigap plans?

No. Medigap, or Medicare Supplement, is not tied to the Annual Enrollment Period. You can apply for a Medigap policy at other times of year, but outside your Medigap Open Enrollment window an insurer may ask health questions. If you are thinking about moving from Medicare Advantage to Medigap, start that conversation early.

Is there a cost to have an agency review my Medicare plan?

At Samantha Lewis Agency, an Annual Enrollment Period review is free, with no obligation. Insurance companies pay brokers when you enroll, so using a broker usually costs you nothing extra. Michigan residents can also get free, unbiased counseling through MMAP, the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program.

Want a second set of eyes before December 7? Request a Medicare quote, Book a free consultation or call (734) 525-9450.