Medicare open enrollment starts now. These changes will arrive in 2027
Open enrollment comes as inflation adds pressure on seniors whose healthcare costs have risen and as midterm elections are weeks away. Voters have consistently said cost-of-living is a major concern.
Open enrollment for Medicare plans kicks off Thursday and will run until December 7th. During this period, individuals can select between traditional Medicare and private Medicare Advantage programs, as well as prescription drug coverage. All of these choices will take effect on January 1st, 2027. This enrollment window comes at a time when rising inflation is straining senior healthcare expenses, and as midterm elections approach, with cost-of-living being a key concern for voters.
The Social Security Administration has also announced a 3.6% increase in annual cost-of-living adjustment for seniors and disabled individuals starting in 2027, which amounts to an extra $75 per month for around 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and 7.3 million Supplemental Security Income recipients. Key changes to Medicare in 2027 include raising the Part D out-of-pocket caps to $2,400 from $2,100, increasing the standard deductible from $615 to $700, and the termination of temporary federal Part D premium subsidies.
Written by urgent.news from PBS NewsHour Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
