Medicare 2026
Medicare open enrollment 2027: What Newburgh residents can do before Dec. 7
NEWBURGH, N.Y. — The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, and it is the one stretch each year when nearly every Medicare beneficiary can change how their coverage works in 2027. For people here in Orange County, that means a fixed window to review plans, switch, or stay put — with changes taking effect January 1.
Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.
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Key takeaways
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, with any changes starting January 1, 2027.
- You can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Part D drug plans, or join a plan for the first time during this window.
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- If you miss December 7, a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31 for people already in an Advantage plan.
This fall's window matters. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027, and plans have been adjusting benefits and formularies in response. Reviewing your options before December 7 is the simplest way to head off surprises in January.
What you can actually do between October 15 and December 7
The Annual Enrollment Period, often called AEP or "open enrollment," is broad. During this window you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
- Sign up for Part D for the first time if you're eligible and don't have creditable drug coverage.
Whatever you choose takes effect January 1, 2027. If you make more than one change during the window, the last choice on file by December 7 is the one that sticks.
Why the December 7 deadline matters
After December 7, most people cannot freely change their Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the rest of the year. There are exceptions — such as moving out of a plan's service area, losing other coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help — but those are Special Enrollment Periods with their own rules.
If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one more chance: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31, when you can switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. That period does not apply to people in Original Medicare who want to join an Advantage plan for the first time.
What's new for 2027 that's worth a look
A few program-wide changes make this fall's review worth the time:
- $2,400 Part D cap in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), you pay nothing more for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
- maximum ($615 in 2026, $700 in 2027) Part D deductible. Plans can charge less, but no Part D plan can charge more than this.
- No more "donut hole." The old coverage gap phase was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your Part D out-of-pocket costs across monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. You have to opt in through your plan.
- IRMAA thresholds. Higher-income beneficiaries pay income-related surcharges on Part B and Part D. For 2026, the surcharge starts above $109,000 for a single filer (based on 2024 tax return income).
How Newburgh fits in
Medicare plan availability is set by county, not city. Newburgh is in Orange County, where beneficiaries can choose from Original Medicare plus a range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans offered by multiple carriers. The exact list changes each year, so a plan that worked in 2026 may look different — or cost different — in 2027. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's ANOC and on the Medicare.gov Plan Finder.
The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the official tool that shows the plans available at your ZIP code, along with estimated drug costs based on your prescriptions.
A simple checklist before December 7
- Read your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), mailed in late September, and look for changes to premiums, drug tiers, and network.
- Make a list of your current prescriptions and preferred pharmacies.
- Confirm your doctors and specialists are still in-network for 2027.
- Compare at least two or three options at medicare.gov before you decide.
- If you're unsure, call 1-800-MEDICARE or reach out to New York's free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known here as HIICAP.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Orange County
(MA penetration in Orange County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to do anything during open enrollment if I like my current coverage?
What if I miss the December 7 deadline?
Where can I get free, one-on-one help in Newburgh?
How does the new $2,100 drug cap actually work?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Newburgh
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This page was last updated: September 29, 2026.