What to Do If You Missed Medicare Open Enrollment—Plus How to Switch Plans

Medicare open enrollment officially ended on Sunday, December 7, and millions of Americans are now prepared for their healthcare needs in 2026. Missed the deadline or fear you chose the wrong plan? No worries! Keep reading to find out what you can do if you missed the boat.  

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What to do if you don’t enroll in Medicare 

If you didn’t opt in during the Medicare open enrollment period, your first move should be to see if you qualify for the Special Enrollment Period (SEP)–an extra block of time given to people with extenuating circumstances such as a move or the loss of another health insurance plan.

If you don’t qualify, see if you can get into the General Enrollment Period (GEP), which is open from January 1 to March 31 (you can apply here). During this time, you can sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B, but past the deadline you risk paying a Part B late enrollment fee, which will be added to your monthly premium. 

Another option: Look into other health insurance options, suggests Whitney Stidom, vice president of consumer enablement at eHealth, an online health insurance marketplace. “Consider short-term and medical indemnity plans, as well as standalone vision, dental and hearing plans.” 

If you do choose alternative insurance, Stidom urges caution about understanding what’s covered—and what’s not.  “While short-term health plans can provide some financial protection in case of a medical issue, it is important for people to understand the limitations of these options, including a lack of coverage for essential benefits such as preventive services, mental health care and pre-existing conditions,” she says. 

“Hospital indemnity plans [a supplemental policy plan], which pay enrollees a fixed amount after certain urgent medical visits such as a hospital visit, can help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses and offer some financial protections in lieu of comprehensive insurance,” Stidom continues. “But like short-term plans, hospital indemnity plans typically do not cover pre-existing conditions and may include per-incident, yearly and lifetime benefit limits. In addition, people can consider standalone dental, vision and hearing plans. These plans can provide important coverage for these types of ancillary services, as issues related to oral, eye and hearing health tend to decline as people grow older.” 

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What to do if you picked the wrong Medicare plan 

A new University of Michigan study warns that millions of Americans pick the wrong Medicare plan each year.

If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan during open enrollment, you can still make changes from January 1 to March 31, Stidom says. “During this window, beneficiaries can change Medicare Advantage plans or switch to Original Medicare.” 

If you’re not enrolled in Medicare Advantage, consider calling 1-800-MEDICARE and speaking to a representative who can help you figure out what to do and learn whether changing plans is an option for you in 2026.

If you do decide to switch up your coverage though, Stidom advises making sure you do your research about what coverage you actually need. 

“Medicare beneficiaries say shopping for coverage is confusing, so it is crucial consumers compare their plan options to make the optimal benefit decision for themselves and their loved ones,” she explains. “By comparing Medicare Advantage plans based on individual needs and budgets, people can potentially save over $1,800 annually on average in out-of-pocket costs while maintaining access to quality care.”