Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is open now and runs through December 7. It’s the one window most people get each year to switch Medicare Advantage plans, change Part D drug coverage, or move between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare. Any changes you make take effect January 1.
Seven weeks goes fast, and plans change every year even when your health doesn’t. Here’s what to check before the deadline.
What You Can Do During Annual Enrollment
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
- Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
- Move from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan
This is different from the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), which allows only one limited change for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan. AEP is the bigger, more flexible window.
7 Things to Do Before December 7
1. Read your Annual Notice of Change
Every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan mails an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by September 30. It spells out what’s different next year: premiums, copays, deductibles, covered drugs, and provider networks. Even if your plan says your benefits are “staying the same,” check. A drug can move to a higher cost tier, and a doctor can quietly leave the network.
2. Check your prescriptions against next year’s formulary
Formularies change every year. A drug that’s covered now isn’t guaranteed to be covered, or to cost the same, next year. The Medicare Plan Finder lets you enter your medications and compare costs plan by plan. If you’d rather not do it yourself, send us your list and we’ll run the comparison for you.
3. Confirm your doctors are still in-network
Medicare Advantage networks shift from year to year. Call your plan or check its online directory to confirm that your primary care doctor, your specialists, and your preferred hospital are still included next year.
4. Think about how your health changed this year
More doctor visits, a new diagnosis, or a new medication can all change which plan makes the most sense financially.
5. Don’t assume “no news is good news”
If you do nothing during AEP, your current plan usually renews automatically. That’s fine if it’s still the best fit, and expensive if it isn’t. New plans enter the market every year, so a quick comparison is worth it even when your plan looks fine.
6. Know which enrollment period you’re in
AEP is for changing plans. It’s not the same as your Initial Enrollment Period when you turn 65, or your Medigap open enrollment period. Mixing these up is one of the most common, and most costly, mistakes. If you’re thinking about leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, ask about Medigap first. In many states, buying a supplement later means answering health questions.
7. Get a second set of eyes before you decide
An independent agent isn’t tied to one insurance company. That means the recommendation is about what fits you, not what one carrier is selling this year.
Book Your Free Medicare Review Before December 7
We offer free, no-pressure plan reviews throughout Annual Enrollment. In one conversation, we can walk through your ANOC, compare drug costs, and check your doctors. We’re licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, and we know the plans in each market.
Appointments fill up as the deadline gets closer. Call (401) 413-4183 or schedule online today.
Keep Reading
- Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC): What You Need to Know
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: Which One is Right for You?
- What People Should Be Doing During Medicare Open Enrollment (and what comes next)
Questions About Your Medicare Options?
I’m Ellen Daniels, an independent Medicare broker with more than 30 years of experience. I’ll compare your options for free and explain them in plain English — no pressure.