Do clients have to re-enroll during the AEP to keep their current plan?

No. CMS's 2027 fact sheet says people who want to keep their current coverage do not need to re-enroll. Reviewing their plan's 2027 changes with them is still worth doing before December 7, 2026.

When can clients start comparing 2027 plans and Star Ratings?

CMS says people can begin comparing 2027 plans on Medicare.gov starting October 1, 2026, and 2027 Star Ratings post on or around October 8, 2026. Comparing is not enrolling, though. Enrollments can't happen until the AEP opens on October 15.

Does a client need to send proof that they qualify for an SEP?

No. CMS's CY 2027 guidance says plans may ask an applicant to attest to their eligibility for an enrollment period but may not request or require evidence. Plans must accept verbal or written confirmation of the conditions that make someone eligible. Some SEPs work differently. SEPs that need CMS approval go through 1-800-MEDICARE, and the move SEP requires the client's new permanent address.

Can I take a Medicare enrollment over the phone on a call I placed to a new prospect?

No. Under CMS's CY 2027 guidance, when the applicant has no existing business relationship with you, a telephone enrollment can only be accepted on an incoming call from the applicant. The applicant also has to agree to be recorded and verbally attest to their intent to enroll.

What happens if a client's plan is terminated and they don't pick a new one?

Under CMS's guidance, people in a terminated plan who don't elect a new plan default to Original Medicare. The termination SEP window depends on who ended the contract, so check the timing and reach the client before the window closes.

Medicare Enrollment Periods Cheat Sheet for Agents: 2027

The Medicare enrollment periods agents work are the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), the Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP), the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP), the General Enrollment Period (GEP), the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) tied to specific events. For 2027 coverage, the AEP runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and AEP changes take effect January 1, 2027.

This cheat sheet lists each period's window, who can use it, what it allows, and when coverage starts. It draws on CMS's CY 2027 enrollment guidance, the eCFR, and Medicare.gov. Keep it open for AEP and for every SEP call.

Key takeaways

The 2027 AEP runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and coverage starts January 1, 2027. Marketing can start October 1, but you can't take enrollments before October 15.
The MA OEP (January 1 to March 31) is only for people already in an MA plan, and it allows one change. The GEP has the same dates but is for signing up for Part B or premium Part A.
When a client delays Part B, the ICEP and the Part D IEP become separate periods.
Losing employer coverage opens two clocks: the Part B SEP (8 months) and the MA/Part D SEP (2 full months after the month coverage ends). COBRA doesn't extend the Part B window.
SEP windows and effective dates differ by SEP, and some SEPs need CMS approval through 1-800-MEDICARE.
Plans may ask for an attestation but can't require evidence. Document the qualifying event, its date, the attestation, and your NPN.

Medicare enrollment periods at a glance

Period	When	Who uses it	What it allows	Coverage starts
IEP (Part A and B)	7 months: 3 months before the 65th birthday month, the birthday month, and 3 months after	People turning 65	Sign up for Part A and Part B	Signed up before the birthday month: Part B starts the month they turn 65. Signed up in the birthday month or the 3 months after: the next month
ICEP (Medicare Advantage)	Starts 3 months before the person first has both Part A and Part B. Ends on the later of the last day of the second month after Part A entitlement and Part B enrollment, or the last day of the Part B IEP	People new to Parts A and B	Join an MA plan	Generally the 1st of the month after the plan gets the request. A request made before the first month of A and B entitlement takes effect the 1st day of that month
Part D IEP	Same timing as the ICEP unless Part B is delayed, when the two become separate periods	People new to Medicare	Join a Part D plan	Confirm in the CMS guidance
AEP	October 15 to December 7	People with Medicare	Make health and drug plan changes for next year. Someone who switches to Original Medicare may also pick a PDP	January 1 of the next year
MA OEP	January 1 to March 31, and the first 3 months of new A and B entitlement	People already in an MA plan	One change: switch MA plans, or go to Original Medicare with or without a PDP	1st of the month after the plan gets the request
GEP	January 1 to March 31	People signing up for Part B or premium Part A	Sign up for Part B or premium Part A	The month after sign-up
Medigap Open Enrollment	6 months starting when Part B coverage starts, for people 65 or older	New Part B enrollees 65 or older	May be able to buy any Medigap policy sold in the state, even with health problems	Ask the insurer

Sources: Medicare.gov coverage start rules, the CMS CY 2027 enrollment guidance, and Medicare.gov's Medigap page.

What are the 2027 AEP dates, and when does coverage start?

CMS's 2027 fact sheet says Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15, 2026, to December 7, 2026, and 2027 health and drug plan coverage begins January 1, 2027. Under 42 CFR 422.62(a)(2), the annual coordinated election period for the following calendar year runs October 15 through December 7, and a person who changes to Original Medicare during it may also elect a PDP.

The 2026 to 2027 season on one timeline

Date	What happens
October 1, 2026	2027 plans can be compared on Medicare.gov, and marketing of 2027 plans may begin
On or around October 8, 2026	2027 Star Ratings post
October 15, 2026	AEP opens, and enrollments may start
December 7, 2026	AEP closes
December 8, 2026	The non-renewal SEP opens for plans ending January 1, and the 5-star SEP opens for the 2027 contract year
January 1, 2027	AEP coverage starts. MA OEP and GEP open
Last day of February 2027	Non-renewal SEP ends
March 31, 2027	MA OEP and GEP end

Can you take an AEP application on October 1?

No. CMS's CY 2027 guidance says marketing of prospective-year plans may begin October 1 under 42 CFR 422.2263(a) and 423.2263(a), but enrollments may not occur until the AEP begins. Plans may not let agents and brokers accept or solicit paper enrollment forms before the AEP starts. Plans and their representatives also may not accept unsolicited non-paper enrollment requests before the AEP.

There is one narrow exception. A pre-AEP paper form counts as unsolicited only if it comes directly from the applicant, not through an agent or broker. Forms received October 1 to 14 are submitted with an October 15 application date.

As a practical step, use the first two weeks of October to book appointments for October 15 or later. Our Medicare marketing guidelines guide and AEP preparation checklist cover the rest of the pre-AEP rules.

ICEP vs. IEP: what happens when a client delays Part B?

The IEP is about Part A and Part B. It's the 7-month window around the 65th birthday month. The ICEP is about joining Medicare Advantage, and it's tied to when the person first has both Part A and Part B, not to the birthday.

For a client who enrolls in both parts on time, the windows line up. When Part B is delayed, for example because the client is working past 65 with job-based coverage, CMS says the ICEP and the Part D IEP become separate periods. The client's ICEP then starts 3 months before they first have both A and B.

Count ICEP effective dates from the plan's receipt of the request. A request made before the first month of entitlement to both parts takes effect the first day of that month. Otherwise it generally takes effect the first of the month after the plan receives it.

How is the MA OEP different from the GEP?

They share dates but do different jobs.

	MA OEP	GEP
Dates	January 1 to March 31, and the first 3 months of new A and B entitlement	January 1 to March 31
Who	People already in an MA plan	People signing up for Part B or premium Part A
What it allows	One change: switch MA plans, or drop to Original Medicare with or without a PDP	Medicare enrollment
Effective date	1st of the month after the plan gets the request	The month after sign-up
Watch for	Change limits (see below)	A monthly late enrollment penalty may apply if the person doesn't qualify for an SEP

During the MA OEP, CMS says people may not:

Switch from Original Medicare into an MA plan
Make Part D changes if they're in Original Medicare
Make any changes if they're in an MSA, cost plan, or PACE plan

For January retention conversations, see our client retention playbook.

Which Special Enrollment Periods do agents use most?

SEP length isn't one number. Under CMS's guidance, an SEP election generally takes effect the first day of the month after the election, unless a specific SEP allows a retroactive or prospective date. An SEP counts as used on the effective date of the new plan or when its time frame ends, whichever comes first. Where the table below says "General rule," apply that default and confirm it in the CMS guidance.

SEP	Who qualifies	Window	Effective date
Permanent move	Moved permanently out of the plan's service area, or moved and has new plan options where they now live (also: returned to the U.S. or released from incarceration)	Starts on the move date, or the month before if the person tells the plan in advance. Ends 2 months after the month it begins or after the month of the move, whichever is later	The person may choose up to 3 months after the month the plan gets the request, not earlier than the move date
Employer/union coverage (SEP EGHP)	Leaving employer coverage, including COBRA, to join MA or Part D, or leaving MA or Part D for employer coverage	Ends 2 months after the month employer coverage ends	The person may request up to 3 months after the month of the election
Involuntary loss of creditable drug coverage	Lost creditable drug coverage. Loss for not paying premiums doesn't count	From notice to 2 calendar months after the later of the loss or the notice	1st of the month after the election, or up to 3 months later at the person's request (MA-PD)
Plan non-renewal	Contract non-renewal or service area reduction effective January 1	December 8 to the last day of the following February	December 8 to 31: January 1. January: February 1. February: March 1
Plan or contract termination	Members of a terminated plan	Ended by the MA organization or by mutual consent: 2 months before to 1 month after the termination date. Ended by CMS: 1 month before to 2 months after	MA organization or mutual-consent termination: the person may choose the month after notice, up to 2 months after the termination date. CMS termination: up to 3 months after the month of termination. Never earlier than the date the new plan gets the request. No election means Original Medicare
5-star	Eligible to enroll in, and living in the service area of, a plan with a 5-star overall rating	Once per contract year, December 8 before the contract year through November 30	General rule
SEP65	Elected an MA plan during the Part B IEP around the 65th birthday. Not available to people entitled to Medicare before 65	12 months starting on the MA effective date, to go back to Original Medicare	General rule
Medigap trial	Dropped a Medigap policy to join an MA plan for the first time, and still in the trial period and eligible for Medigap guaranteed issue	One-time election back to Original Medicare in the first 12 months of MA enrollment, with a coordinating Part D SEP	General rule
Dual/LIS	Full-benefit duals and other LIS-eligible people	Once per month, into a standalone PDP only	1st of the next month
Integrated care	Dually eligible people enrolled in, or enrolling in, the D-SNP's affiliated Medicaid MCO	Once per month, into a FIDE SNP, HIDE SNP, or AIP D-SNP	1st of the following month
Change in dual or LIS status	Gained, lost, or changed Medicaid or LIS status	One election within 3 months of the change or the notice of it, whichever is later	General rule
Disaster/emergency	In an area with a federal, state, or local emergency declaration, or relying on helpers there, and missed another election period because of it	Ends 2 full calendar months after the incident end date. Lasts at most 14 full calendar months if no end date is identified	General rule

The Medigap trial and disaster SEPs appear in 42 CFR 422.62(b)(8) and (b)(18), and SEP65 appears in 42 CFR 422.62(c). This table isn't a list of every SEP. Check the CMS guidance for any situation it doesn't cover.

Losing employer coverage: 8 months or 2 months?

Both, on different clocks. Medicare.gov says the Part B SEP for people with job-based coverage (their own or a spouse's) ends 8 months after group coverage or employment ends, whichever happens first. COBRA is not group health plan coverage, and getting COBRA doesn't change when that SEP ends.

The MA and Part D window is shorter. Medicare.gov's SEP page lists it as "2 full months after the month your coverage ends," and it covers people leaving COBRA too.

Mind the drug coverage clock as well. CMS says the Part D late enrollment penalty applies when someone has a break in creditable drug coverage of at least 63 consecutive days after their initial enrollment period, except as described in 42 CFR 423.780(e).

Non-renewals, terminations, and consolidations

A non-renewal effective January 1 gives members until the end of February, but the effective date moves later each month they wait. Plan consolidations are not terminations and don't qualify for the termination SEP.

The 5-star SEP drug coverage trap

The 5-star SEP can be used once per contract year. CMS warns that moving from an MA-PD to an MA-only 5-star plan can mean losing Part D coverage and possibly a Part D late enrollment penalty. Check drug coverage before you suggest the move.

How often can dual and Extra Help clients change plans?

Medicare.gov says the Extra Help and Medicaid SEP allows changes once a calendar month. Under CMS's guidance, the dual/LIS SEP only allows enrollment into a standalone PDP. It doesn't permit enrollment into MA-PD plans or changes between MA-PD plans. It's also unavailable to people identified as at-risk or potentially at-risk under a Part D drug management program.

For integrated plans, the integrated care SEP under 42 CFR 423.38(c)(35) allows monthly enrollment into a FIDE SNP, HIDE SNP, or AIP D-SNP. Using the change in dual or LIS status SEP doesn't count toward the monthly dual/LIS SEP.

Which SEPs require CMS approval through 1-800-MEDICARE?

CMS's CY 2027 guidance marks these SEPs as needing CMS approval before use:

Not adequately informed of loss of creditable coverage
Federal employee error
Contract violations
CMS sanction
Significant change in provider network
Other exceptional circumstances

For several of these, the individual must call 1-800-MEDICARE. Medicare.gov adds that other SEPs are evaluated case by case, such as joining a plan based on misleading information from a plan representative or SHIP. It directs people with exceptional circumstances to call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).

As advice: don't write an application under these on your own. Give the client the number and follow up after they call.

Where do you find the right SEP reason code?

CMS's guidance points plans to the Plan Communications User Guide (PCUG) Table 3-8 for each SEP's reason code and submission details. It also lists election type codes: "S" for a Special Election Period, "J" for default enrollment, "Z" for MA auto-enrollment, and "U" for the Dual/LIS SEP in facilitated enrollment.

Use the current carrier application and your carrier's enrollment team for the reason code. Retire old SEP code job aids from earlier years, because codes and rules change.

When does Medigap open enrollment start, and what if a client misses it?

Medicare.gov says the Medigap Open Enrollment Period gives people 65 or older 6 months after their Part B coverage starts to buy any Medigap policy sold in their state, even with health problems. After it ends, insurers don't have to sell a policy unless the person has guaranteed issue rights and gives proof of their situation.

Record each client's Part B start date the day you learn it. Ask your state insurance department and your carriers about any state rules that apply.

What should you document when a client uses an SEP?

Here's what CMS's CY 2027 guidance says:

Attestation. Plans may ask an applicant to attest to eligibility but may not request or require evidence. They must accept verbal or written confirmation. They must deny a non-AEP enrollment if the person isn't eligible for a valid period or doesn't give the attestation when asked.
Agent receipt. Receipt by an agent or broker employed by or contracting with the plan counts as receipt by the plan. If you help complete a form, you must indicate your relationship to the applicant and provide your NPN.
Phone enrollments. The applicant must agree to be recorded and verbally attest to their intent to enroll. If there's no existing business relationship, you can only accept the enrollment on an incoming call from the applicant.
Timing and retention. Plans must submit enrollment requests to CMS within seven calendar days of receiving the completed enrollment request. They must keep enrollment and disenrollment records for the current contract period plus 10 prior periods.

Your receipt of a completed request starts the plan's clock, so submit applications the same day when you can. Ask your carriers how long they expect you to keep your own copies.

Checklists for AEP and SEP calls

These steps are advice. Follow your carriers' procedures and the scope of appointment rules on every appointment.

AEP call (October 15 to December 7, 2026):

Confirm the date. Don't accept an application before October 15.
Complete the scope of appointment your carriers require.
Review the client's current plan, drugs, and doctors against 2027 options.
If the client is moving to Original Medicare, discuss a PDP.
For phone enrollments, use your carrier's approved telephonic process. If there's no existing business relationship, accept it only on an incoming call from the client. Get consent to record and the verbal attestation of intent.
Enter your NPN and submit promptly. Explain the January 1, 2027 start date.

SEP call:

Identify the qualifying event and its exact date.
Match it to one SEP and check that the window is still open.
Check whether the SEP needs CMS approval. If it does, refer the client to 1-800-MEDICARE.
Confirm the effective date, and whether the client may choose one.
Check drug coverage for 63-day gaps and MA-only risks.
Get the attestation, note it, and submit.

A short qualifying script you can adapt:

"To find the right enrollment window, I need to ask about recent changes. Have you moved, lost or left employer coverage, or had a change in Medicaid or Extra Help in the last few months? What date did that happen? Thanks. On the application, you'll confirm that this information is accurate."

Common mistakes and edge cases

Treating every SEP as a two-month window.
Using the MA OEP to move an Original Medicare client into MA.
Assuming COBRA extends the 8-month Part B window.
Using the dual/LIS SEP to switch between MA-PD plans.
Offering SEP65 to someone entitled to Medicare before 65.
Treating a plan consolidation as a termination.
Forgetting that an SEP counts as used once the new plan takes effect.
Moving an MA-PD client into an MA-only 5-star plan without discussing Part D.

Tracking election windows in LeadGPT

You can keep each client's qualifying event date and Part B start date in custom fields, and attach attestations to the lead record. Calls you make or answer in LeadGPT are recorded with a transcript and AI summary in the Call Log, and the AI Assistant can search those transcripts for notes about a client's qualifying event. Take telephonic enrollments only through your carrier's approved process. Ask Sofia to set a reminder before a client's window closes. Recording is always on with no announcement, so confirm disclosure rules with your compliance team. See the features overview or the interactive demo.

What to do next

Save this table and the 2027 timeline where your team can find them.
Replace old SEP code sheets with your carriers' current applications.
Add qualifying-event and Part B start date fields to your client records.
Finish your AEP preparation checklist before October 15.

This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice. Confirm each rule with CMS, your carriers or upline, and your compliance team. You'll find more guides in our insurance sales category, and our editorial policy explains how we research them.