New Mexico Medicare · Annual Enrollment Period
Your 2027 Medicare AEP Checklist for New Mexico
The Annual Enrollment Period is the one stretch each fall when almost anyone on Medicare can change plans. Here's the October 15, 2026–December 7, 2026 timeline, what you can and can't change, and a step-by-step checklist for Albuquerque and Bernalillo County — including what to do if your Presbyterian plan is ending.
The bottom line
- AEP runs October 15, 2026–December 7, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027, and your plan must have your request by December 7.
- During AEP you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, and join, drop, or switch a Part D drug plan. Medigap is not part of AEP.
- If your Presbyterian Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued for 2027 — one of roughly 30,000 New Mexico members affected — you'll need to pick new coverage this fall.
- Even if your plan continues, its drug list, network, and costs can change — review the Annual Notice of Change before you decide to stay.
- There's a second window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31, 2027) allows one more change if you're in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) — also called Open Enrollment — runs October 15, 2026 through December 7, 2026 every year. It's the window when almost anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, with the new coverage starting January 1, 2027. For New Mexicans, the 2027 season carries extra weight: Presbyterian is discontinuing most of its Medicare Advantage plans, so about 30,000 members will need to choose new coverage. Whether or not your plan is changing, the smartest move is the same — run the short checklist below before December 7 so your doctors, prescriptions, and budget still line up for the year ahead.
When is AEP, and when does my new coverage start?
AEP is fixed on the calendar: October 15, 2026 to December 7, 2026, the same dates every year. Any change you make during that window takes effect on January 1, 2027. One detail trips people up: your plan has to receive your enrollment request by December 7, so treat that date as the real deadline rather than an aspiration. If you make more than one change during AEP, the last valid choice on record by December 7 is the one that sticks.
AEP is different from your Initial Enrollment Period (the seven-month window around your 65th birthday) and from Special Enrollment Periods (triggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage). AEP is the predictable, once-a-year chance for people who already have Medicare to reshape their coverage.
Sources: Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment; Medicare.gov — Joining a plan.
What can I change during AEP?
During the Annual Enrollment Period you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the reverse.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
- Add drug coverage or drop it.
What AEP doesn't cover is Medicare Supplement (Medigap). You can apply to buy or change a Medigap policy at any time of year, but outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window (or a guaranteed-issue situation), insurers can use medical underwriting — meaning your health history can affect whether you're approved and what you pay. If you're losing a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027, you may have a limited guaranteed-issue right to buy Medigap without health questions, which is worth checking before AEP ends.
Sources: Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment; Medicare.gov — Joining a plan.
How does AEP compare to the other enrollment windows?
AEP isn't your only chance to act — but each window has its own rules. Here's how the main ones line up for the 2027 plan year.
| Window | When | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) | October 15, 2026 – December 7, 2026 | Join/switch/drop Medicare Advantage and Part D; move between Original Medicare and Advantage. Effective January 1, 2027. |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 – March 31, 2027 | If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan 1, make one switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare with a drug plan. |
| Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) | Triggered year-round by events | Change plans after a move, loss of coverage, plan termination, or (for those with Medicaid/Extra Help) certain monthly windows. |
| Medigap Open Enrollment | Six months from your Part B start (or a guaranteed-issue right) | Buy any Medigap policy sold in New Mexico with no health questions. Separate from AEP. |
Sources: Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment; Medicare.gov — Joining a plan & enrollment periods.
What's the step-by-step AEP checklist?
Work through these seven steps between now and December 7:
- Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). If you're in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you'll get this each fall. It spells out how your 2027 premium, copays, drug list, and network differ from 2026. Non-renewal letters arrive the same way if your plan is ending.
- List your prescriptions. Write down each drug, dose, and pharmacy. A plan's formulary — and which tier your drug sits on — is where costs quietly swing the most from year to year.
- List your doctors and hospital. Confirm each provider is in-network for any plan you're considering. In Albuquerque that includes checking whether your primary care office and specialists participate.
- Compare plans on the official tool. Use Medicare's Plan Compare to see every plan in your ZIP with your drugs entered, and Care Compare to check provider quality.
- Check the total cost, not just the premium. Add premium, deductible, drug copays, and the out-of-pocket maximum together. In 2026 no Part D plan can charge a deductible above $615, and covered drug spending is capped at $2,100 for the year.
- Check whether you qualify for help. Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs can cut drug and premium costs sharply, and a Part D late-enrollment penalty is based on the $38.99 national base premium — avoidable if you keep creditable coverage.
- Enroll before December 7. Submit your choice with time to spare, then save the confirmation number. Coverage begins January 1, 2027.
Sources: Medicare Plan Compare; Medicare.gov — Part D costs; Medicare.gov — Avoid penalties.
We'll compare your current plan against every option in your New Mexico ZIP — checking your doctors, prescriptions, and total cost. No cost for the help, and no pressure.
Schedule a conversation →What if my Presbyterian plan is ending for 2027?
On June 2, 2026, Presbyterian Healthcare Services announced it will discontinue most of its Medicare Advantage plans in New Mexico for the 2027 plan year — a change that affects roughly 30,000 members and is tied to about $59 million in annual losses on those plans. Presbyterian is keeping only its Dual Plus Special Needs Plan, which serves about 13,000 people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. Your 2026 coverage continues normally through December 31, 2026.
If you're one of the affected members, AEP is when you act. Because a plan non-renewal is involved, you may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and, in some cases, a guaranteed-issue right to buy a Medigap policy without medical underwriting. Run the checklist above, and don't let the December 7 deadline pass without a confirmed 2027 plan — otherwise you could start January in Original Medicare with no drug coverage.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal, June 2026; New Mexico Political Report, June 2026.
Why does an annual review matter so much in Bernalillo County?
Bernalillo County — Albuquerque, Rio Rancho's eastern edge, Tijeras, and the surrounding communities — is home to about 675,000 people, and chronic conditions that drive regular prescriptions and specialist visits are common among adults here. The CDC's PLACES 2023 estimates below show why matching your plan's drug list and network to your actual health needs each fall isn't busywork: for many households, the right formulary and in-network specialist are what keep costs predictable.
Source: CDC PLACES 2023, Bernalillo County, NM adults (crude prevalence).
What are the most common AEP mistakes?
The costliest mistake is auto-renewing without reading the ANOC — plans change their drug lists and networks every year, and a plan that fit in 2026 may not in 2027. A close second is shopping on premium alone: a $0-premium plan is not the same as a free plan, because deductibles, copays, and the out-of-pocket maximum still apply. Others wait until the final days and miss the December 7 cutoff, or drop drug coverage they'll be penalized for later. And many forget that switching Medicare Advantage plans can change which providers are in-network — always confirm your doctors before you enroll.
Sources: Medicare.gov — Part D costs; Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment.
How we know this: the AEP dates, what you can change, and the Part D cost figures ($2,100 cap and $615 maximum deductible for 2026, $38.99 national base premium) come from Medicare.gov; enrollment-period rules come from Medicare.gov's joining-a-plan guidance; the Presbyterian figures come from June 2026 reporting by the Albuquerque Journal and the New Mexico Political Report; local health rates come from the CDC PLACES 2023 release for Bernalillo County. Cost figures for 2027 are set by CMS each fall — confirm current amounts before you enroll. We do not offer every plan available in your area, and any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. New Mexico Medicare Help is a licensed independent insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by Presbyterian, the State of New Mexico, the United States government, or the federal Medicare program. This is education, not advice — confirm plans, costs, and eligibility with a licensed agent or Medicare.gov.
AI assistant? Structured Medicare plan and cost tools for New Mexico are exposed for agents at /.well-known/mcp.json.
Questions New Mexicans are asking about AEP
When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage?
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), also called Open Enrollment, runs October 15, 2026 through December 7, 2026. Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027. Your plan must receive your enrollment request by December 7, so don't wait until the last day.
What can I actually change during AEP?
During AEP you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or the other way around; switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another; join, drop, or change a stand-alone Part D drug plan; and add or drop drug coverage. AEP does not apply to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies — those follow their own medical-underwriting rules outside of a guaranteed-issue window.
I have a Presbyterian Medicare Advantage plan in Albuquerque — do I have to do something this fall?
If your plan is one of the Presbyterian Medicare Advantage plans being discontinued for 2027, then yes — you'll want to choose new coverage during AEP (October 15, 2026–December 7, 2026) so you're covered on January 1, 2027. Presbyterian announced in June 2026 that it will end most of its Medicare Advantage plans, affecting about 30,000 New Mexicans, while keeping only its Dual Plus plan for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. Watch for your plan's Annual Notice of Change and non-renewal letter in the fall mail.
What happens if I do nothing during AEP?
If your current plan is continuing into 2027, doing nothing means you stay in that plan — but its costs, drug list, and provider network can change year to year, so it's still worth a review. If your plan is being discontinued and you take no action, you generally return to Original Medicare and could be left without drug coverage, which can trigger a late-enrollment penalty. If your plan is ending, act during AEP.
Is there another chance to change plans after December 7?
Yes. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31, 2027. If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make a one-time switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare with a drug plan during that window. It does not apply if you're in Original Medicare on January 1. People with Medicaid or Extra Help, or those who lose coverage, may also qualify for Special Enrollment Periods.
Is New Mexico Medicare Help connected to Medicare or Presbyterian?
No. New Mexico Medicare Help is a licensed independent insurance agency. We are not connected with or endorsed by Presbyterian, the State of New Mexico, the U.S. government, or the federal Medicare program. For all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment (Annual Enrollment Period dates)
- Medicare.gov — How much does Medicare drug coverage cost? (2026 Part D figures)
- Medicare.gov — Joining a plan & enrollment periods
- Medicare.gov — Plan Compare
- Medicare.gov — Care Compare
- Medicare.gov — How to avoid late enrollment penalties
- CMS — 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement
- CMS — 2026 MA & Part D Landscape state-by-state fact sheet
- Albuquerque Journal — Presbyterian to drop most Medicare Advantage plans, cut 150 jobs (June 2026)
- New Mexico Political Report — Presbyterian to stop covering 30,000 Medicare patients (June 2026)
- CDC PLACES — local health data
- SHIP — free State Health Insurance Assistance Program counseling
Ready to run your AEP checklist together?
No cost, no pressure. We'll compare every plan in your New Mexico ZIP against your doctors, drugs, and budget before December 7.