{
  "title": "Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Dates and What to Check",
  "canonical": "https://quantcalc.app/medicare-open-enrollment-2026/",
  "status": "OFFICIAL",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "date_modified": "2026-09-24",
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "42 CFR §422.62 (MA election periods)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-422/subpart-B/section-422.62",
      "verified": "'Beginning in 2011, the annual coordinated election period for the following calendar year is October 15 through December 7.'"
    },
    {
      "label": "42 CFR §423.38 (Part D enrollment periods)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-B/section-423.38"
    },
    {
      "label": "42 CFR §407.14 (initial enrollment period)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-407/subpart-B/section-407.14",
      "verified": "'the 7-month period that begins 3 months before the month an individual first meets the eligibility requirements ... and ends 3 months after'"
    },
    {
      "label": "42 CFR §407.15 (general enrollment period)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-407/subpart-B/section-407.15",
      "verified": "'the general enrollment period is January through March of each calendar year'"
    },
    {
      "label": "42 CFR §407.20 (special enrollment period for group health plan coverage)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-407/subpart-B/section-407.20",
      "verified": "'(c) ... coverage must be by reason of the current employment status of the individual or the individual's spouse'"
    },
    {
      "label": "Medicare.gov, Joining a plan",
      "url": "https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan",
      "verified": "'Open Enrollment Period October 15-December 7' ... 'January 1 of the next year (the plan must get your enrollment request by December 7)' ... 'Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period ... January 1-March 31'"
    },
    {
      "label": "42 U.S.C. §1395r(b) (Part B late-enrollment increase)",
      "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1395r"
    },
    {
      "label": "42 U.S.C. §1395w-113(b) (Part D late-enrollment penalty)",
      "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1395w-113"
    },
    {
      "label": "42 CFR §423.286(d)(3) (penalty amount, rounded to the nearest $0.10)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-F/section-423.286"
    }
  ],
  "figures": {
    "periods": {
      "aep": {
        "start": "2026-10-15",
        "end": "2026-12-07",
        "effective": "2027-01-01"
      },
      "ma_oep": {
        "start": "2027-01-01",
        "end": "2027-03-31"
      },
      "gep": {
        "start": "2027-01-01",
        "end": "2027-03-31"
      }
    },
    "part_b_penalty_12mo_2026": 20.29,
    "part_d_penalty_12mo_2027": 5
  }
}