Medicare enrollment periods in Michigan
Medicare's enrollment windows are set by federal rules, so they are the same in Michigan as in every other state. The 2026 Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. Changes made during the Annual Enrollment Period take effect January 1, 2027.
IEP
Initial Enrollment Period
The Initial Enrollment Period is your personal seven-month window around your 65th birthday. It opens three months before the month you turn 65 and closes three months after. This is when most people enroll in Medicare for the first time.
AEP
Annual Enrollment Period
The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During AEP, people with Medicare can enroll in, change, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan. Changes made during AEP take effect on January 1 of the following year.
MA OEP
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31. During this window, people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can make one change: to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare, with or without a Part D plan. The change takes effect the first of the month after the plan gets the request.
SEP
Special Enrollment Periods
Special Enrollment Periods open when specific life events happen, such as losing employer coverage or moving to a new area. The timing depends on the event, and Medicare.gov explains the rules for each one.
Unbiased Medicare counseling through Michigan SHIP
Michigan's State Health Insurance Assistance Program goes by SHIP. It is run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, its counselors are local and certified, and it does not sell Medicare plans.
SHIP counselors can explain Medicare health plan options, help with Medicare bills and notices, and explain Medicare and Medicaid eligibility and appeals. Call 1-800-803-7174. If you are new to all of this, our guide to what Medicare is is a good place to start.
If you have Medicare and Medicaid in Michigan
Michigan replaced MI Health Link with MI Coordinated Health on January 1, 2026, in parts of the state. Our guide to Medicare and Medicaid in Michigan explains who it serves and what the state has said about 2027, and the dual-eligible guide covers how the two programs work together anywhere.
Insurance consumer help from the State of Michigan
The Department of Insurance and Financial Services' Office of Consumer Services answers insurance questions and investigates complaints. Its call center is at 877-999-6442, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For federal Medicare rules themselves, Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE are the official sources.
Where to get Medicare help in Michigan
These public programs and contacts are listed by official sources. Each one links to the page it came from.
Medicare counseling (SHIP)
Michigan's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, SHIP, run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, is an unbiased resource to help people navigate Medicare. Its local, certified counselors offer personal assistance at no charge, and SHIP does not sell Medicare plans. Phone: 1-800-803-7174.
State insurance consumer help
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services' Office of Consumer Services provides consumer information and investigates consumer complaints about insurance and other financial products. Its call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 877-999-6442.
How a licensed independent agent helps in Michigan
A licensed independent insurance agent can explain how the parts of Medicare fit together, walk through the enrollment windows that apply to your situation, and review the plans the agent offers in your area. The review is educational, and there is no obligation to enroll.
An agent is different from a state counseling program. Counselors at a State Health Insurance Assistance Program do not sell insurance. A licensed agent can help with an application, but can only discuss the plans that agent offers, which is why the plan-availability disclosure appears near the request button on this page.
Many people use both: unbiased counseling to understand the rules, and an agent to review specific options. If you are new to Medicare, start with what Medicare is and how it works, then read about the Annual Enrollment Period. For other coverage questions in Michigan, see the Michigan state guide.
Have questions? Review your options with a licensed agent.
Review your Medicare options in Michigan
Answer a few questions and a licensed agent will follow up to walk through the plans they offer in your area. Educational, no pressure, and no obligation to enroll.
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We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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FAQ
Medicare questions from Michigan
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