Medicare 2026

Medigap and the 2026 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: What You Can and Cannot Do for 2027 Coverage

Each fall, Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period draws a lot of attention — and a lot of confusion about where Medigap fits in. The short answer: it mostly doesn't. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) runs on its own set of rules, separate from the October 15 to December 7, 2026 window that locks in Medicare Advantage and Part D choices effective January 1, 2027. Knowing the difference can save you time, money, and a few headaches.

What Annual Enrollment actually changes

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period — October 15 through December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027 — is when you can:

• Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Join, switch, or drop a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
• Return to Original Medicare from Medicare Advantage.

What Annual Enrollment does not do is give you a guaranteed opportunity to buy a Medigap policy. Medigap has its own rulebook under federal law.

How Medigap enrollment really works

You can apply for a Medigap policy at any time of year. The catch is what the insurer is allowed to ask. Outside of a guaranteed-issue situation, insurers in most states may use medical underwriting — reviewing your health history and current conditions — to decide whether to accept you and at what premium.

The one window where most people get the strongest protection is the Medigap Open Enrollment Period: a six-month window that starts the month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During that window, you generally have the right to buy any Medigap policy sold in your state at the best available rate the insurer offers, without medical underwriting.

Miss that window, and your options depend on whether a federal guaranteed-issue right applies, whether your state offers additional protections, and whether you can pass underwriting.

Guaranteed-issue rights to know about

Federal law provides guaranteed-issue rights in specific situations. Two common ones:

• Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area. The window generally starts 60 days before coverage ends and runs 63 days after.
• The "trial right": if you joined Medicare Advantage when you first became eligible for Medicare, you can switch back to Original Medicare within your first year and buy certain Medigap policies on a guaranteed-issue basis.

Some states add protections on top of federal rules — for example, "birthday rules" that let you change Medigap policies around your birthday without underwriting. These vary by state and should be verified with the insurer or your state's insurance department.

If you're switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare for 2027

Annual Enrollment is a common time to make this change. A few things to line up before December 7, 2026:

1. Enroll in a stand-alone Part D plan during the same window. Medigap does not cover prescription drugs, and if you don't pick up Part D when you're first eligible, late-enrollment penalties can apply later. 2. Apply for a Medigap policy. Unless a guaranteed-issue right applies, be prepared for medical underwriting. It's often wise to apply before dropping your Medicare Advantage plan so you know where you stand. 3. Confirm effective dates. Your new Part D and Medicare Advantage choices start January 1, 2027; Medigap effective dates are set by the insurer based on your application.

How Medigap plans are structured

Medigap plans are standardized by letter under federal law — Plans A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N are available to people newly eligible for Medicare. Plans C and F are closed to anyone newly eligible on or after January 1, 2020, though people who were already eligible before that date may still be able to buy them.

Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their Medigap plans differently. Benefits within a given letter are the same from one insurer to another, but premiums and customer service are not. Comparing on price alone can be misleading if the pricing method (for example, how premiums change with age) differs.

Original Medicare + Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage: a neutral look

Neither path is universally better; they trade off differently.

• Original Medicare + Medigap (+ Part D): broad provider choice nationwide, more predictable out-of-pocket costs with a Medigap policy, but typically higher monthly premiums (Part B plus Medigap plus Part D).
• Medicare Advantage: often lower or $0 plan premiums and extra benefits bundled in, but usually network-based with rules like referrals or prior authorization, and out-of-pocket costs that depend on the services you use.

The right fit depends on your providers, your medications, your travel patterns, your budget and your tolerance for plan rules. Compare carefully using plan documents.

A few 2027 numbers that aren't out yet

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, along with the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) thresholds, had not been announced at the time of writing. CMS typically announces these figures in the fall. Avoid any source quoting exact 2027 numbers before CMS releases them.

Program-level items that are set: the Part D annual out-of-pocket cap continues to apply in 2027, and the Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Where to go next

For official rules, plan comparisons, and the most current numbers once CMS announces them, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Medigap specifically, Medicare.gov's Medicare Supplement Insurance pages explain standardized plan letters, guaranteed-issue rights, and how to compare policies in your state.