Direct answer: Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
- Start with your Annual Notice of Change. Your plan had to send it by September 30.
- Check everything against the 2027 plan documents: every doctor, hospital, pharmacy and prescription.
- Compare total yearly cost, not just the premium.
- Change plans only if a verified comparison shows your current plan no longer fits.
Is your plan ending?
If a letter says your Medicare Advantage plan will not return on January 1, your Medicare is not ending. Read the next steps in My Medicare Advantage plan is ending. What do I do now?
CMS’s Florida 2027 landscape sheet lists 560 Medicare Advantage plans, down from 611 in 2026, and 11 stand-alone Part D plans. Those are statewide counts, not Polk County totals. Use them as Florida context, then check the exact 2027 plan documents for your ZIP code.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| By September 30, 2026 | Plans send the Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage for 2027 |
| Early October 2026 (typically October 1) | 2027 plan details appear on Medicare Plan Finder |
| October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Annual Enrollment Period |
| January 1, 2027 | New coverage starts |
| January 1 – March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: one change, for people already in Medicare Advantage |
2027 numbers that affect your comparison
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part D annual out-of-pocket limit for covered drugs | $2,100 | $2,400 | CMS CY2027 Rate Announcement |
| Part D base beneficiary premium (national benchmark used for the late-enrollment penalty) | $38.99 | $41.33 | CMS, July 28, 2026 |
| Medicare Advantage in-network out-of-pocket ceiling | $9,250 | $9,850 | CMS CY2027 Part C bid memo |
| Medicare Advantage PPO combined in- and out-of-network ceiling | $13,900 | $14,800 | CMS CY2027 Part C bid memo |
Individual plans set their own limits at or below these ceilings. The 2027 Part B premium and deductible had not been announced as of this update. CMS usually publishes them in the fall.
The checklist
1. Read the Annual Notice of Change
- Premium, deductible and out-of-pocket limit for 2027
- Drug list and tier changes for each of your prescriptions
- Network changes for your doctors and hospitals
- Prior authorization or referral changes
- Changes to extra benefits you actually use
2. Check every prescription
- Search each drug by name, strength and dose on the 2027 drug list.
- Note the tier, prior authorization, step therapy and quantity limits.
- Confirm your pharmacy is in network, and check whether it is a preferred pharmacy on that plan.
3. Check every doctor and facility
- Search each doctor, specialist, hospital, imaging center and lab by the exact 2027 plan name.
- Call the billing office to confirm.
- Polk County checks usually include Lakeland Regional Health, Watson Clinic, and Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, which opened in July 2026.
4. Compare total yearly cost Add the premiums, the expected copays and coinsurance, and your drug costs for the full year. A $0 premium plan with high drug costs can cost more than a plan with a premium.
5. Confirm your enrollment rights Annual Enrollment covers Medicare Advantage and Part D changes. Medigap is separate. If you are thinking of leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, check medical underwriting before you disenroll. See switching from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
6. Check the effective date and keep records Keep your confirmation number. Watch for the new plan's ID card in December.
Documents to bring to a review
- Your Medicare card and your current plan card
- The 2027 Annual Notice of Change
- A list of prescriptions with dose and pharmacy
- A list of doctors and facilities
- Any Extra Help or Medicaid letters
Call (863) 640-3102 A review does not enroll you or change your coverage.
Related reading
- My Medicare Advantage plan is ending. What do I do now?
- Medicare Part D drug plans in Lakeland
- Is a Part B giveback plan worth it in Polk County?
- When can I switch Medicare plans in Florida?
- Check prescriptions before you enroll
- Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement
- Can I keep my doctor if I switch Medicare plans?
- East Polk Medicare help
Common questions
When is Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage?
October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes you make during that period generally take effect January 1, 2027.
What should I check before Annual Enrollment?
Read your Annual Notice of Change, then check every prescription, doctor, hospital and pharmacy against the 2027 plan documents and compare total yearly cost, not only the premium.
When does my plan send the Annual Notice of Change?
Medicare plans must send it by September 30. It summarizes changes for January 1 but does not replace the full drug list, provider directory or Evidence of Coverage.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket limit for 2027?
$2,400 for covered drugs, up from $2,100 in 2026, according to CMS.
Can I change Medicare plans after December 7?
Only in limited cases. From January 1 through March 31, people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can make one change. Otherwise you need a Special Enrollment Period, such as for a move or for Medicaid or Extra Help.
Sources
- CMS, 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape state-by-state fact sheets (Florida: 560 Medicare Advantage plans vs. 611 in 2026; 11 stand-alone Part D plans)
- Medicare.gov, Open Enrollment
- Medicare.gov, Joining a plan
- CMS, CY2027 Rate Announcement (Part D out-of-pocket threshold $2,100 → $2,400)
- CMS, Part D national average bid and base beneficiary premium for 2027 (July 28, 2026)
- CMS, Final CY2027 Part C Bid Review Memorandum (Apr 22, 2026)
- KFF, Medicare Advantage in 2026 (2026 MOOP $9,250 in network / $13,900 combined)