If you or a loved one is on Medicare, mark your calendar: the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 this year. This is the one window most people have each year to switch Medicare Advantage plans, change Part D drug coverage, or move between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare — and once December 7 passes, those options close until next fall.
The seven weeks of AEP go fast, and plans change every year even if your health hasn’t. Here’s how to walk in prepared instead of overwhelmed.
1. Read your Annual Notice of Change
Every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan sends this out each September. It spells out what’s different next year — premiums, drug formularies, provider networks. Most people never open it. This year, read it.
2. Check whether your doctors are still in-network
Networks shift year to year. If you’ve had any changes in providers or specialists, this is the year to double-check.
3. Review your prescription list against next year’s formulary
A drug that was covered this year isn’t guaranteed to be covered — or covered at the same cost — next year.
4. Think about what changed for you healthwise this year
More doctor visits, a new diagnosis, a new medication — all of these can shift which plan actually makes financial sense.
5. Don’t assume “no news is good news”
If you do nothing during AEP, your current plan usually just renews. That’s fine if it’s still the best fit — expensive if it isn’t.
6. Know the difference between AEP and other enrollment periods
AEP (Oct 15–Dec 7) is for plan changes. It’s different from your Initial Enrollment Period or Medicare Supplement open enrollment — mixing these up is one of the most common costly mistakes people make.
7. Get a second set of eyes before you decide anything
An independent agent isn’t tied to one insurance company, so the recommendation is about what fits your situation — not what a single carrier is selling this year.
This is the best time to book a review — before the rush hits in mid-October. Call 401-413-4183 or schedule online for a free, no-obligation Medicare checkup. We’ll walk through your current plan together and flag anything worth changing before enrollment opens.