Medicare AEP Dates and Agent Calendar: 2026 to 2027
Plan for Medicare AEP from October 15 to December 7, 2026, with marketing dates, carrier readiness work, and the Medicare Advantage OEP for 2027.
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage beginning January 1, 2027. During that window, eligible beneficiaries can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage. Medicare.gov publishes the enrollment dates and permitted changes.
For agents, the preparation calendar starts earlier. Marketing for the next plan year can begin October 1, while carrier training, contracting, and readiness deadlines follow each carrier's instructions. Keep those deadlines separate from the beneficiary enrollment window.
The 2026 to 2027 calendar
| Date | Event | What it means for planning |
|---|---|---|
| Summer and early fall 2026 | Annual training and carrier readiness work | Use each carrier's actual course availability and deadlines |
| October 1, 2026 | Marketing for 2027 plans may begin | Confirm authorization and use the appropriate year's materials |
| October 15, 2026 | AEP opens | Beneficiaries can make elections under the AEP |
| December 7, 2026 | AEP closes | The plan must receive the AEP enrollment request by this date |
| January 1, 2027 | Coverage chosen during AEP takes effect | Confirm the effective date in the carrier's enrollment record |
| January 1 to March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | Available to people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, subject to its election limits |
The enrollment dates come from Medicare.gov. The October 1 marketing date comes from 42 CFR 422.2263. Summer and early fall are suggested preparation windows, not federal certification deadlines.
Put carrier deadlines beside the public calendar
Start with the carriers, products, and states you intend to sell. Obtain the certification instructions for each and record the deadline that applies to your relationship. New-agent contracting and returning-agent certification may have different requirements.
There is no universal AHIP-first sequence. UnitedHealthcare's 2027 program, for example, offers its own Standard course as well as AHIP and NABIP transfer paths. The AHIP guide explains how to choose accepted training.
Use a record like this for each carrier. It is a suggested planning worksheet:
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Intended work | Products, states, and the date you plan to begin marketing or selling |
| Required training | Accepted general course, product modules, and plan year |
| Carrier deadline | The date and source, including whether it applies to new or returning agents |
| Outstanding work | The exact missing document, course, transmission, or carrier decision |
| Next action | Who is following up, with whom, and when |
| Completion evidence | Current carrier confirmation for the intended work |
Appointment filing also depends on state and carrier rules. Aetna's instructions say it orders appointments after the first sale where state law permits. Confirm carrier authorization and the applicable filing process instead of assuming that every producer follows the same sequence.
If a producer is incomplete on October 15, determine what is missing and whether the carrier accepts later completion. An unresolved requirement can delay that producer's work; it does not by itself establish a season-long bar. Agencies handling those exceptions can use the Medicare onboarding guide.
October 1: marketing for the coming plan year
The marketing rule permits discussion of the upcoming year's offerings starting October 1. Current-year and upcoming-year materials must clearly identify which year they describe.
Build that distinction into preparation. Check presentation decks, comparison notes, and saved plan documents before using them. A folder named only “AEP” makes it harder to spot an old benefit document than a file that identifies the carrier, product, and coverage year.
October 1 does not open AEP enrollment early. A person eligible under another enrollment period may have a separate opportunity; identify that period and its effective-date rules before acting. Use the Medicare.gov enrollment-period table to distinguish those cases.
October 15 to December 7: AEP enrollment
Keep submission and acceptance evidence accessible throughout AEP. A useful internal follow-up list identifies the beneficiary's request, carrier reference, submission date, and unresolved carrier response. Use your approved systems and applicable recordkeeping procedures for those records.
As December 7 approaches, review open items for missing information or rejected submissions that need attention. The deadline is not a reason to assume an unconfirmed application has been received. Follow the carrier's enrollment instructions and confirm the status.
Agents who also assist with ACA plans have an overlapping window. HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, per CMS's July 27, 2026 statement, with December 15 the last day to enroll for January 1 coverage. The FFM guide covers its separate annual registration.
January 1 to March 31: Medicare Advantage OEP
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period permits a person already in Medicare Advantage to make one election to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare, with the related opportunity to choose Part D coverage. The MA election rule defines that limit and its exceptions. This period does not let someone in Original Medicare newly join MA.
The OEP marketing rules prohibit targeting OEP as an opportunity for additional sales or sending unsolicited OEP marketing. They allow responses to beneficiary requests and marketing focused on other lawful enrollment opportunities, such as eligible people aging into Medicare.
Before acting on a first-quarter request, identify the beneficiary's current coverage and available election period. That determines the available changes and effective date; the calendar date alone does not.