Medicare Open Enrollment is an opportunity for pharmacies to help patients review their prescription coverage and understand their options for the year ahead. From October 15 through December 7, 2026, beneficiaries can compare plans and make changes for 2027.
With timely reminders and helpful information, your pharmacy can encourage patients to review their coverage, check medication costs, and confirm their pharmacy network before the deadline. It’s also a chance to raise awareness of your Medicare comparison services and strengthen relationships with patients that extend into every season.
Why Medicare Open Enrollment matters for pharmacies
Changes to Medicare coverage can affect which medications are covered, how much patients pay, and whether their preferred pharmacy remains in network. When patients discover unexpected changes in January, they may face added costs or consider transferring their prescriptions.
The 2027 plan year brings several changes for patients to consider, including an increase in the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027, as well as an increase in the standard Part D deductible from $615 to $700.¹
Your pharmacy can encourage patients to review their coverage before the deadline and help them understand what to consider when comparing plans. Even a simple reminder can prompt patients to take a closer look at their options.
Download the free Medicare Open Enrollment Toolkit.
Get ready-to-use resources to help you educate patients and promote your Medicare comparison services.
Six ways to market your Medicare comparison services
A coordinated approach helps patients see timely, consistent reminders across the channels they already use. Consider these six ways to promote your services throughout open enrollment.
1. Share helpful information on your website
Create or update a page on your pharmacy website that explains how your pharmacy can help with Medicare plan comparisons.
Include the October 15–December 7 enrollment dates, a brief checklist of what patients should review, and clear instructions for contacting your team or scheduling an appointment.
Encourage patients to check whether their medications are still covered under their current plan for 2027, review their healthcare needs, and confirm that your pharmacy is in the plan’s preferred network.
Answer patients’ Medicare questions with an FAQ section
Patients ask the same Medicare questions at your counter that others search for on Google or ChatGPT. A short FAQ on your Medicare page helps your pharmacy answer those questions online, giving patients information to review or share with family while reducing repetitive questions for your team.
Keep answers to two to four sentences, lead with the direct response, and use everyday language.
For example:
What happens if I miss the Medicare Open Enrollment deadline?
If you miss the annual Open Enrollment Period, you generally remain in your current plan for 2027. You may miss the opportunity to switch to a plan with lower costs or better drug coverage.
2. Keep your Google Business Profile current
Patients often turn to Google when searching for local services. Make sure your Google Business Profile has accurate hours, contact information, website links, and details about the services you offer.
If you provide Medicare comparisons, include that information where appropriate so patients can discover it when looking for help. You can also share seasonal updates through your profile to remind patients that your team is available during open enrollment.
After completing a Medicare comparison, invite patients to leave an honest review of their experience. Be sure to follow Google’s review policies, and never offer incentives or suggest specific wording.
3. Send timely patient text messages
Text messages can remind patients to review their coverage without requiring them to visit your website or social media pages first.
Keep messages short, helpful, and focused on one next step.
For example:
lamarsprings.com/medicare
Be sure to only send marketing messages to patients who have opted in, and follow applicable messaging requirements.
4. Start conversations with in-store materials
Use existing patient interactions to raise awareness of your Medicare comparison services. Place flyers near pickup, display a counter card in a visible area, or include a reminder with relevant prescription orders.
Keep the message simple: share the enrollment dates, encourage patients to review their coverage, and explain how to get help.
Your team can reinforce the message during checkout with a quick question, such as, “Have you looked at your Part D coverage for next year? We can help you see what’s changing.”
These small conversations can encourage patients to take action without making the interaction feel like a sales pitch.
5. Build a short social media series
A series of educational posts on your pharmacy’s social media helps keep Medicare Open Enrollment top of mind without repeating the same message. Consider covering:
- Important dates: When enrollment begins and ends.
- Medicare basics: A simple overview of Parts A, B, C, and D.
- Medication coverage: How the 2027 Part D changes, including the higher deductible and out-of-pocket cap, could affect what patients pay for their prescriptions.
- Pharmacy networks: Why it’s important to confirm that their pharmacy remains in network.
- Planning for 2027: How changes in medications, health needs, and coverage may affect their choices.
Aim for two or three posts per week, with one clear takeaway in each. Remember that family members and caregivers may also help patients navigate coverage decisions, so make posts easy to understand and share.
6. Make it easy to schedule an appointment
Online appointment scheduling gives patients a way to schedule consultations when it works best for them. It also gives you the flexibility to create dedicated appointment types and offer those appointments during lower-traffic periods to allow for focused conversations without disrupting the busiest parts of the day.
Leverage your scheduler to send reminders and let patients know what to bring to their appointment, such as their Medicare card, their current Medicare Part D plan information, and an up-to-date medication list.
Measure what works
You don’t need a complicated reporting process to understand whether your outreach is making a difference. Track a few practical measures throughout the enrollment period:
- Appointments: How many Medicare comparison appointments are scheduled?
- Website activity: Are patients visiting your Medicare information page?
- Social media engagement: Are your Medicare Open Enrollment posts earning shares, comments, and clicks to your website?
- Patient feedback: Are patients asking more questions about coverage, medication costs, and pharmacy networks?
Reviewing these results can help you understand which channels are reaching patients and where to focus future seasonal campaigns.
Keep patients connected to your pharmacy
Medicare Open Enrollment is more than a seasonal deadline. It’s an opportunity to help patients make informed decisions, raise awareness of your services, and stay connected as their healthcare needs change.
Coordinating outreach across websites, social media, email, print, and other channels takes time, especially when your team is balancing daily operations. We can help you spread the word about your Medicare comparison services and help you keep patients engaged through Open Enrollment and beyond.
How we can help
Patients can compare plans online, but many would rather sit down with a pharmacist they already know. Our Websites and Digital Marketing Services help more local patients find you when they search for Medicare help online.
Once they find you, the Lumistry Patient Portal makes the next step easy. Patients can book an appointment and message your team all from one place.
Make Medicare Open Enrollment outreach easier.
Discover how we can help you spread the word about your Medicare Comparison services and turn those conversations into lasting patient connections.
Citations
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Announcement of Calendar Year 2027 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies. Source.
