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6 min read 8 stepsMay 15, 2026Verified May 2026

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 — How to Enroll Online, Step by Step

Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Here is the plain-English walkthrough of comparing and choosing a plan at Medicare.gov.

At a Glance

Create or sign in to your Medicare account

~37s

Open your web browser and go to medicare.gov. Click the orange "Log in / Create account" button in the top right. If you have not signed up before, click "Create account." You will need your Medicare number (the 11-character ID on your red, white, and blue card), your date of birth, your zip code, and an email address you can check. Medicare will email you a code to confirm the account. Write down your username and password somewhere safe. You will need them every year.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If you already have a Login.gov or ID.me account from another government service, Medicare lets you sign in with that instead. One less password to remember.

Add your prescription drugs

~37s

Once you are signed in, click "Find Health & Drug Plans." The site will ask if you take any prescription drugs. Click yes. Type each medication name into the search box — the site auto-fills brand names and generic names. For each one, pick the dosage (for example, 20 mg) and how often you take it (daily, twice daily). Add every prescription, even the cheap ones, because the plan comparison uses this list to estimate your yearly cost. Your drug list is saved to your account, so next year you only need to update it.

Warning

Skipping drugs here is the number-one reason people pick the wrong plan. Even a $4 generic affects which plan is cheapest in some cases.

Add your pharmacy

~24s

After your drug list, the site asks which pharmacies you use. Pick up to two — usually one for everyday fills and one as a backup. Most plans have "preferred" pharmacies where drug prices are lower. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and most grocery store pharmacies are all in the system. If you use mail-order delivery, choose that as an option too — many plans give a 90-day supply by mail at the cheapest price.

Compare plans side by side

~43s

The site now shows you every Medicare plan available in your zip code. There are two main types to compare: (1) Original Medicare + a Part D drug plan (and optionally a Medigap supplement), or (2) Medicare Advantage plans (which bundle medical and drug coverage into one plan, often with extras like dental and vision). The plans are sorted by your estimated yearly cost — premiums plus expected drug costs. Click "Plan Details" on any plan to see what doctors are in-network, what your monthly premium is, what each drug costs, and the star rating (1 to 5 stars, with 5 being best).

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: A low premium with high drug costs can be more expensive than a higher-premium plan with cheap drugs. Always look at the "Estimated total yearly cost" column, not just the monthly premium.

Check that your doctors are in-network

~40s

For Medicare Advantage plans, this matters a lot — if your doctor is out-of-network, you may pay full price or not be covered. Click "View Plan Details" on a plan, then look for the "Find doctors and providers" or "Provider directory" link. Type in your doctor name. The directory tells you whether the doctor accepts that plan for 2026. Do this for every doctor you see at least once a year — primary care, specialists, anyone you do not want to lose. For Original Medicare, almost every doctor in the U.S. accepts it, so this step is less of a worry.

Warning

Provider directories are not always up to date. Call the doctor office directly and ask "Do you accept [plan name] for 2026?" before you commit.

Enroll in the plan you chose

~32s

When you find the plan you want, click "Enroll" on its details page. Medicare.gov walks you through a short form — your name, Medicare number, address, and your effective date (January 1 if you enroll during Open Enrollment). You do not pay anything to enroll. The plan company will mail you a welcome packet and a new ID card within a few weeks. You can only be enrolled in one Medicare Advantage plan or one Part D drug plan at a time — enrolling in a new one automatically disenrolls you from the old one on January 1.

Save your confirmation and write down the dates

~28s

After you enroll, Medicare.gov gives you a confirmation number. Write it down or take a screenshot — keep it in a folder with your Medicare card. The confirmation number is your proof of enrollment in case anything goes wrong. Mark January 1 on your calendar — that is when the new plan starts. Cancel any auto-payments to your old plan if you switched. Throw away (or shred) old ID cards on January 1. So you do not accidentally hand them to a doctor.

Get free help if you get stuck

~36s

Every state has a free Medicare counseling program called SHIP (State Health Insurance Help Program). SHIP counselors are trained, unbiased, and do not sell anything. Find your local SHIP by calling 1-877-839-2675 or going to shiphelp.org. AARP also has a free Medicare hotline at 1-877-227-1620. They can walk you through the plan comparison over the phone if you prefer not to use the website. Both services are free for everyone, including non-AARP members.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Avoid the unsolicited phone calls and TV commercials that say "Compare plans now!" Many of those go to insurance brokers paid commission for steering you to specific plans. SHIP and AARP have no financial stake.

You Did It!

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Every fall, Medicare opens a window where you can switch plans, add prescription drug coverage, or move to a Medicare Advantage plan. The window is called Open Enrollment. And it runs from October 15 through December 7 every year. Any changes you make take effect on January 1 of the next year.

Doing this online at Medicare.gov is faster than calling — and you can compare prices, doctors, and prescription costs side by side. This guide walks through the whole process for 2026.

Before you start, have three things ready: your red, white, and blue Medicare card; a list of your prescription drugs with dosages; and a list of doctors and pharmacies you use. If you have those handy, the whole process takes about 20 minutes.

(Sources: Medicare.gov — official enrollment portal, medicare.gov; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, cms.gov; AARP Medicare Resource Center, aarp.org/health/medicare)

Watch a walkthrough: search YouTube for "Medicare Plan Finder tutorial AARP" — AARP and Medicare.gov both post current-year demonstrations.

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Official Resources

USA.gov — Government Services SSA — Social Security Benefits.gov IRS Free File

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