Medicare open enrollment began Oct. 15 and is available through Dec. 7. During this time, those with Medicare can use this period to make changes to their plans and coverage options for the year ahead.

Each year, health plans can change benefits, costs and coverage, said Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in a press release. Individual health needs can also change throughout the year. 

Changes made during the open enrollment period take effect Jan. 1, 2026. After the Dec. 7 deadline passes, those hoping to change their plans typically must wait until the next open enrollment period.

Medicare.gov offers tools to compare plan costs online by clicking on “Find Plans Now.” This year for the first time, participants can search to see whether preferred doctors are covered by different plans. Log-ins have also been modernized with the option to use a fingerprint or face ID to safely get into your account.

Washington’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner is also offering Medicare Open Enrollment Jumpstart Toolkits to walk people through preparing for open enrollment.