Medicare Open Enrollment begins, Dr. Oz encourages beneficiaries to be proactive

(FOX40.COM) — As the fight over cuts to Medicaid continues into the week of the government shutdown, open enrollment for Medicare is now underway.

Medicare Open Enrollment began on Wednesday, allowing individuals eligible for Medicare to compare 2026 coverage options to find the option that best fits their needs. However, this opportunity doesn't last much longer, as the open enrollment period will end on Dec. 7.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said that Medicare beneficiaries should review and compare Medicare health and drug plans, especially this year, due to new changes on Medicare.gov.

FOX40 spoke with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who explained that these programs are "the social safety net gem of our nation, it works we