Medicare open enrollment begins amid the government shutdown. Here's everything you need to know.

By Alessandra Malito

Evaluating your plan can save you thousands of dollars

Medicare's annual open enrollment period is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, when beneficiaries can switch, add or drop plans.

Medicare's annual open-enrollment period begins on Oct. 15, amid a continuing government shutdown.

Beneficiaries are able to make changes to their Medicare plans during the open-enrollment period, including switching between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage or adding or dropping coverage, such as Medicare Part D for prescription drugs. The period lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

The government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, will affect some aspects of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' operations. The shutdown could limit or delay updates to information on the Medicare website, according to Medicare.gov. "Your Medicare benefits and coverage will continue as before, and you can go to your doctor and access the healthcare services you need," the site says.

Read: Here's what's really stopping Medicare Advantage from covering all of America's seniors

But the government did not specify if or how open enrollment might be impacted. A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said that mission-critical activities at CMS will continue during the shutdown. The department did not clarify what that meant for open enrollment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Still, now is the time to review current plan information and health needs. Many beneficiaries ignore the open-enrollment period, but reviewing coverage and comparing the current plan to what's available could save beneficiaries hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. An inadequate plan doesn't cover the types of healthcare visits and medications a beneficiary needs. Healthcare needs may also have changed in the past year, or retirees might expect certain procedures or diagnoses in the year ahead.

See: Don't ignore this upcoming Medicare update - it could be the most important message of the year

Almost seven in 10 Medicare beneficiaries didn't compare their plans with the other available options, according to a KFF report released last year.

Plans also change coverage, or doctors and medications may move out of network. Medicare plans will send documents called the "Annual Notice of Change," which include details on benefits and costs for the upcoming year. From there, beneficiaries can determine if that coverage is still the best aligned for their health, and compare to what the marketplace is offering for the upcoming year. Any changes made during this open-enrollment period become effective Jan. 1.

There is a separate enrollment period for Medicare Advantage, which runs between Jan. 1 and March 31 each year. That period is only available to people currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage, but it does allow beneficiaries to switch between Medicare Advantage plans or back to Original Medicare. Individuals who are becoming eligible for Medicare, such as when they turn 65 or when they lose qualifying health insurance beyond their 65th birthday, have special enrollment periods. Failure to enroll in Medicare Part B or Part D when eligible and without qualifying coverage often results in penalties, which are permanently added to the beneficiary's monthly premium amounts.

Medicare beneficiaries may have received the "Medicare & You 2026" handbook in the mail, or they can find it online here. This 100-plus-page resource shares important updates for 2026 plans, as well as detailed information about various types of plans and individuals' rights and protections within the program.

There are other ways to make this process simpler. When comparing plans, beneficiaries should look at star ratings, which measures the quality of a health plan, and look for help from professionals, such as through state health-insurance assistance programs, which offer free counseling services.

-Alessandra Malito

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10-15-25 1028ET