Medicare in North Carolina
Medicare open enrollment in North Carolina: October 15 to December 7
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7. What to know in North Carolina: the dates, plan changes CMS lists, free local counseling, and a checklist.
The dates
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7. Whatever you choose in North Carolina during those weeks starts January 1. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also get one change between January 1 and March 31.
The plans offered, their networks and their drug lists are set county by county, so what is available in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro can differ from what is offered in a neighboring North Carolina county. Your ZIP code decides the list.
What CMS's lists show for North Carolina this year
CMS's 2027 plan list does not show 47 Medicare plans from 9 companies in some North Carolina counties that its 2026 list showed them in. CMS reports at least 196,991 North Carolina residents enrolled in those plans as of September 2026. Some counts are shown as minimums because CMS hides small numbers.
Where a company still lists other plans in a county, a member is often moved to another plan from the same company. Check the written notice from your plan to see what applies to yours.
- Medicare plan changes for 2027 in North Carolina: plan names, counties and what to check
Free local counseling in North Carolina
North Carolina's State Health Insurance Assistance Program is SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program), at 855-408-1212. It offers one-on-one Medicare counseling that is separate from any insurance company or agent, and it is worth knowing about whether or not you also talk to us.
A checklist for the weeks before December 7
- Find the Annual Notice of Change your plan mailed this fall and read the page about next year's costs.
- List every doctor, hospital and prescription you use, and check each against any North Carolina plan you are considering.
- Compare the monthly premium, the deductible, the copays and the yearly limit, not only the premium.
- If you take specialty drugs, check which tier each is on and whether the plan requires approval first.
- Start before the last week. Changes are easier to correct when there is time left.
If money is tight
NC Medicaid (NC Department of Health and Human Services) runs North Carolina's Medicaid program and the Medicare Savings Programs, which can help people with limited income pay some Medicare costs. Ask about them before you choose a plan, because they can change which plan makes sense.
Medicare in Charlotte
We have a page for this North Carolina city, with the health systems to check and where county lines change your options.
More on Medicare in North Carolina
Medicare questions in North Carolina
When is Medicare open enrollment in North Carolina?
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is the same in every state: October 15 to December 7. A plan you choose in North Carolina during that time starts January 1.
Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7 if I live in North Carolina?
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one change between January 1 and March 31. Outside those windows, most people can change only if something qualifies them for a special enrollment period, such as moving or a plan leaving their area.
Who can help me with Medicare for free in North Carolina?
SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program) gives one-on-one Medicare counseling at 855-408-1212. You can also call us, and there is no charge for that either.
Does North Carolina have its own Medicare open enrollment?
No. Medicare is federal, so the dates are national. What differs by state is which plans are offered in your county, and the local programs that help with costs.
Talk through your Medicare options in North Carolina
Call 855-367-1095 and a licensed agent will review your plan, doctors and prescriptions with you before December 7.
- Licensed insurance help
- No guaranteed eligibility, pricing, or availability
- Educational starting point
GetFastRates.com is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Calling connects you with licensed insurance help. Plan availability, costs, benefits, and enrollment rules can vary by state, carrier, and individual situation.