Every fall, Medicare gives you a window to review your coverage and make changes for the year ahead. This year's version of that window — running October 15 through December 7, 2026 — decides what your Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage looks like starting January 1, 2027. Here's what's worth knowing before it opens, and a simple way to get ready.

Medicare covers an enormous amount — hospital stays, doctor visits, most prescription drugs through Part D, and more. But there's a short list of everyday health needs it was never designed to cover, and it tends to catch people off guard right when they need it most. Here's what's actually excluded, and the common ways people handle each gap.