brings a few extra trips: a sit-down with a counselor, a checkup before the year ends, a stop at the pharmacy to ask about a new plan. For anyone who no longer drives, GoGoGrandparent can arrange rides to all of them with one phone call, and deliver prescriptions so there's one less errand. You'll find the dates, a short checklist for your counseling appointment, and ways to get there without driving.
Choosing a plan is a personal decision, and Medicare or your local SHIP counselor can help you compare. What GoGoGrandparent can help with is the running around.
When is Medicare Open Enrollment in 2026?
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. During that window, people with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare drug plan, or switch to Original Medicare. Any change takes effect January 1, 2027, and the plan has to receive the enrollment form by December 7.
If you've reviewed your options and you're happy with your current coverage, Medicare says you don't need to do anything. It continues automatically.
What should you gather before comparing Medicare plans?
If you have a Medicare health or drug plan, you should receive its Annual Notice of Change in September. It explains changes to your coverage and costs for next year. If it never arrived, Medicare suggests calling the plan.
Before sitting down to compare, it helps to have these on the kitchen table:
- The Annual Notice of Change letter.
- Your Medicare card, plus the card for any plan you have now.
- A list of prescriptions, with the dose and how often each one is taken.
- Every doctor's name, including the specialist seen once or twice a year.
- The pharmacy you use, or two or three you'd be willing to use.
Doctors and pharmacies matter more than most people expect. Medicare notes that costs, benefits, and providers can change each year, so check that your doctors and pharmacy are in the network of any plan under consideration. Medicare's Plan Finder can search for them.
Where can you get free, unbiased help with Medicare?
Medicare points people to two official sources, and neither one is selling anything.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Open 24 hours a day, weekends included. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
- The State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. SHIP offers one-on-one Medicare counseling, and there is no cost to use it. Depending on the local program, counseling can happen by phone or in person. Call 877-839-2675 or visit shiphelp.org to find the nearest one.
If you prefer talking face to face, ask your local SHIP about an in-person appointment. Bring the list, sit down with a counselor, and go through the options together.
Open Enrollment season also brings a pile of mail and phone calls from companies selling Medicare products. Medicare's advice is to rely on Medicare.gov, the "Medicare & You" handbook, and 1-800-MEDICARE for unbiased information.
How do you get to Medicare appointments without driving?
October and November can mean several appointments in a few weeks: a counseling session, a year-end checkup, a pharmacy visit.
With GoGoGrandparent's senior rides, one call to 1 (855) 464-6872 is all it takes. An operator arranges a ride with a highly-rated driver from companies we partner with, like Uber and Lyft. No app and no smartphone needed.
Rides can be booked ahead for a set appointment time, and the GoGo Guardians team is able to monitor the ride along the way. Counseling sessions and checkups can run longer than planned, so book the ride there ahead of time, then call when you're ready to go home. The guide to senior rides to the doctor covers which kind of ride fits which appointment.
Family members helping with Open Enrollment can be added to the account, and then they can book rides too. That's especially handy for adult children who live in another city and can't drive a parent themselves.
Can prescriptions be delivered instead?
Prescription delivery from GoGoGrandparent saves the pharmacy trip. The prescription delivery service picks up medication and brings it to the door. It's arranged by phone and works with pharmacies that allow third-party pickup, including major chains like CVS and Walgreens. The pharmacy is paid directly before pickup, and controlled medications aren't included.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Medicare Open Enrollment start and end?
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. Changes made this fall take effect January 1, 2027.
Do I have to do anything during Open Enrollment?
Not necessarily. If you've reviewed your plan's notices and your options and you're happy with your current coverage, it continues automatically.
Where can I get free help comparing Medicare plans?
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 877-839-2675 or shiphelp.org for free one-on-one counseling.
Can GoGoGrandparent help me get to a Medicare counseling appointment?
Yes. Call 1 (855) 464-6872 and GoGoGrandparent can arrange a ride to your counseling appointment, your doctor, or the pharmacy, with no smartphone needed.
