What to Know for Medicare Open Enrollment 2026

Key Takeaways

Medicare Open Enrollment runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2025.
Review your plan for coverage, costs, and provider access.
Treat pressure to switch to Part C as a red flag.
Agents stopped being paid for Part D help, so use Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder if needed.
Big savings often come from switching Medicare Supplements.
Nevada and California allow special birthday-month switching without re-rating.

Each fall, Medicare beneficiaries have a limited window of time to review and update their coverage. The Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15, 2025, through December 7, 2025, with any changes you make taking effect on January 1, 2026.

The choices you make now can impact your healthcare access, prescription coverage, and out-of-pocket costs for the year ahead.

If you're happy with your coverage, there is no need to change. Still, better coverage or lower premiums are common, and worth a quick look.

Step 1: Review Your Current Plan

Before making changes, ask yourself:

Am I satisfied with the coverage and care I’m receiving?
Are my premiums and out-of-pocket costs manageable?
Has my health changed in ways that may require different coverage?
Do I expect to need new or more expensive prescriptions?

If your plan still fits your needs and budget, and it’s being offered again, you don’t need to do anything. Your coverage will continue.

Step 2: Know Your Options

During the Open Enrollment Period, you can:

Adjust your Medicare plan:

Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (usually not recommended)
Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
Move from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
Switch between Advantage plans that do or don’t include prescription drug coverage

Update your prescription coverage:

Join a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D)
Switch from one Part D plan to another
Drop your Part D coverage

Infographic: The ABCs of Medicare

Step 3: Get the Right Support

Choosing a Medicare plan can feel confusing, but you don’t have to do it alone.

At Open Window, we partner with experienced Medicare professionals who can help you compare plans side by side and find coverage that fits your healthcare needs and budget. We can also revisit your options as often as you'd like. Let us know if we can point you in the right direction.

You can also explore some resources on your own:

1-800-MEDICARE — Speak directly with Medicare representatives.
Medicare.gov — Use the Plan Finder tool or read the annual Medicare & You handbook at medicare.gov.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — Get free, unbiased counseling in your state at shiphelp.org.

Nevada Residents:

Call the statewide SHIP counseling line at 1-800-307-4444 or visit the Nevada MAP website:

California Residents:

Call the statewide SHIP counseling line at 1-800-434-0222 or visit the California HICAP website:

Step 4: Understand Medicare Incentives

Many people rely on Medicare agents for guidance with Medicare, but it’s important to understand the limits:

Favor Original Medicare

For most clients, we prefer greater choice, even if that comes with higher costs.

While Part C Advantage plans may look attractive upfront, many clients discover limitations when they go to use them. We prefer Original Medicare with a Supplement (Parts A, B, D & supplement) versus all-in-one Advantage Plans (Part C).

Follow the Money

Medicare advisors are no longer paid for Part D support.

Across the industry, commissions are not offered on stand-alone prescription drug plans. This means agents often focus their time on Part C Medicare Advantage or Supplement (Medigap) plans, where compensation is usually higher. For context, commissions can exceed $500 for Medicare Advantage plans compared with around $300 for Medicare Supplement plans, and nothing at all for Part D ($0). This helps explain why some Medicare advisors steer attention away from Part D plans and are becoming more reluctant to spend time on annual drug plan reviews.

Visit Medicare.gov

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov has expanded in recent years.

It now allows you to compare 30+ available drug plans each year, side by side. This transparency may be one reason agents no longer receive compensation for Part D support. For many people—especially those on inexpensive generic medications—Part D costs are minimal ($2–$3 per month in some Nevada plans). If your prescriptions are stable and inexpensive, shopping around may not be necessary unless circumstances change.

Consider Supplement Switching

In Nevada and California, you can change your Medicare Supplement during your birthday month each year without being re-rated.

Premiums vary widely even though benefits are identical—for example, one current plan might be $262/month, while another is $111/month for the exact same coverage. This review is often where the meaningful savings can be found.

Let's Take Action Together

The Medicare Open Enrollment window comes once a year. Don’t miss the chance to confirm you have the right coverage for 2026.

At Open Window, we’ll help you cut through the noise and make confident, informed decisions. Call us at (775) 827-0670 or schedule a 'Quick Connection' time at www.openwindow.com/connection.