
Comparing Medicare plans for 2027? Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and changes start January 1, 2027. This worksheet is what to gather first and a grid to fill in from Medicare's Plan Finder, so the plans line up side by side. Print it, or fill it in with a parent.
1. Gather this first
- Your red, white and blue Medicare card and your current plan's card
- Your plan's Annual Notice of Change for 2027, the letter that lists what's changing
- Your doctors and the pharmacy you use
- Every prescription, with the dose and how often you take it (the list below)
2. Your prescriptions
| Drug | Dose | How often | Pharmacy |
|---|---|---|---|
3. Your doctors
| Doctor | Specialty | Must keep? |
|---|---|---|
4. Compare up to three plans
| Current plan | Plan B | Plan C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan name | |||
| Monthly premium | |||
| Yearly deductible | |||
| Estimated yearly cost with your drugs | |||
| Your doctors in network? | |||
| Your pharmacy in network? | |||
| Notes |
Free, unbiased help
- HICAP, California's free Medicare counseling: 1-800-434-0222. It doesn't sell plans.
- Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day.
- Signing in to Medicare.gov uses Login.gov, ID.me or CLEAR. Stuck there? Sign-in help.
- Medicare won't call asking for your Medicare Number unless you gave permission first. A cold call pushing a plan is a red flag.
Everything about this year's window, including the free October 20 talk in Solana Beach: Medicare open enrollment, step by step.
PJ fills in the worksheet with you and sets up the HICAP appointment. He doesn't sell or recommend plans; that's HICAP's job.
Need a human?
This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · every 2027 Medicare plan · is my medication recalled? · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25. Your parent lives here and you don't? The Parent Check-In Plan, $25 a month.
Questions people ask
What do I need to compare Medicare plans?
Your Medicare card and current plan card, your plan's Annual Notice of Change for 2027, your doctors and pharmacy, and every prescription with its dose and how often you take it.
When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027?
October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes start January 1, 2027.
Who gives free Medicare advice in San Diego?
HICAP, California's free Medicare counseling program: 1-800-434-0222. It doesn't sell plans.
Is there a printable Medicare plan comparison worksheet?
Yes, this page prints cleanly: a prescriptions list, a doctors list, and a grid to compare up to three plans from Medicare's Plan Finder.
Know someone who needs this?
Got a question about this? Ask PJ a question. A real person in Solana Beach texts you back.
Something changed here? Text PJ the fix: if it changes this page, you get $5. How it works.
Spotted something new around town? Text it in. What do you want to see here? Ask PJ for a page. No login, a real person reads it.
More free local tools: the North County toolkit.