Medicare Annual Enrollment 2026: Your October 15 – December 7 Checklist

Meta description: Use this Medicare Annual Enrollment 2026 checklist to review plans, doctors, prescriptions, costs, and deadlines before December 7. Request a free, no-obligation comparison of the plans we offer.

Medicare Annual Enrollment is a valuable opportunity to look at your coverage and decide whether it still fits your health care needs and budget. The 2026 Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any changes you make must be received by December 7 to generally take effect on January 1, 2027.

You do not have to wait until you have a problem to review your plan. A calm, once-a-year checkup can help you understand changes to premiums, deductibles, copays, provider networks, prescription coverage, and out-of-pocket limits.

This guide walks through what you can do during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, what it does not cover, and a practical checklist to help you prepare.

What Is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?

The Annual Enrollment Period, sometimes called Medicare Open Enrollment, is the yearly window when people with Medicare can change certain health and prescription drug coverage options for the upcoming year.

During the 2026 enrollment period, you can review coverage for 2027 and make changes by December 7.

What you can do during AEP

Depending on your current coverage, you may be able to:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop, or switch a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
• Add or drop prescription drug coverage within certain Medicare Advantage plans.

If you switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, you may also need to consider a separate Part D plan. You may want to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance, commonly called Medigap, as well: but Medigap rules are separate from AEP.

Is AEP the same as Medicare enrollment at 65?

No. If you are turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare for the first time, your primary enrollment window is generally your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before your 65th-birthday month and ends three months afterward.

The Annual Enrollment Period is mainly for people who are already enrolled in Medicare and want to change Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage for the next year. If you are approaching 65, make sure you understand your Initial Enrollment Period rather than waiting for October 15.

For official enrollment information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

What AEP Does Not Do: Understanding Medigap Rules

One of the most important distinctions to understand is the difference between Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare, and Medigap.

The Annual Enrollment Period is not the same as the Medigap Open Enrollment Period. AEP does not automatically give everyone a new guaranteed-issue right to purchase a Medicare Supplement policy without medical underwriting.

Your Medigap enrollment rights may depend on:

• When you first enrolled in Medicare Part B.
• Whether you are within your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period.
• Whether you have a qualifying guaranteed-issue event.
• Whether you are using a trial right.
• The rules in your state.

Outside protected enrollment situations, a Medigap insurer may be able to ask health questions, charge a different premium, or decline an application, depending on applicable federal and state rules.

This matters when comparing Medicare Supplement vs. Advantage. If you are considering moving from Medigap to Medicare Advantage: or later returning to Original Medicare: understand how that decision could affect your ability to buy Medigap in the future. Review your options carefully before canceling an existing policy.

Why You Should Review Your Medicare Plan Every Year

Keeping the same plan may be the right choice, but it should be an informed choice. Medicare plans can change from one year to the next.

Your plan may update its:

• Monthly premium.
• Annual deductible.
• Copayments and coinsurance.
• Provider and hospital network.
• Pharmacy network.
• Prescription drug formulary.
• Drug tiers and coverage rules.
• Prior authorization or step-therapy requirements.
• Annual out-of-pocket maximum.
• Extra benefits, such as dental, vision, hearing, or fitness benefits.

That means last year’s plan may not be the right fit for the coming year: even if your health needs have not changed. A plan with a low monthly premium may still cost more overall if your prescriptions move to a higher tier, your preferred hospital leaves the network, or your copays increase.

Your Medicare Annual Enrollment 2026 Checklist

Use the following checklist as you prepare for October 15 through December 7.

1. Read your Annual Notice of Change

Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, explains important changes that will begin in January. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans generally send this information before the Annual Enrollment Period.

Look for changes to:

• Premiums.
• Deductibles.
• Copays and coinsurance.
• Benefits.
• Provider networks.
• Pharmacy networks.
• Prescription coverage.
• Service areas.
• Out-of-pocket limits.

Do not set the notice aside without reviewing it. Even small changes can affect your yearly budget.

2. Confirm your doctors and hospitals

If you have Medicare Advantage, verify that your primary care doctor, specialists, preferred hospital, and other important providers will remain in-network for 2027.

Call the provider’s office and the plan directly when possible. Provider directories can change, and a doctor’s office may have more current information.

If you are considering switching to Medicare Advantage from Original Medicare, check the network before enrolling. Network rules are one of the major differences when comparing Medicare Supplement vs. Advantage.

3. Check every prescription against the formulary

Make a current list of your prescriptions, including:

• Medication name and dosage.
• How often you take it.
• Whether it is generic or brand name.
• Your preferred pharmacy.
• Whether you use mail order.

Then check each medication against the plan’s formulary, or drug list. Pay attention to the drug’s tier, copayment, coinsurance, deductible, quantity limits, prior authorization, and step-therapy rules.

A plan that covers all your medications may still be more expensive if several prescriptions are placed on higher tiers.

4. Compare total annual cost: not just the premium

A low monthly premium does not necessarily mean a lower total cost. Estimate your expected annual expenses by considering:

• Monthly plan premiums.
• Annual deductibles.
• Prescription costs.
• Primary care and specialist copays.
• Hospital costs.
• Coinsurance.
• Pharmacy expenses.
• Expected health care use.
• The plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.

Medicare.gov’s Plan Compare tool allows you to enter prescriptions and compare estimated costs in your area.

5. Check the out-of-pocket maximum

Medicare Advantage plans have a yearly limit on what you pay for covered Part A and Part B services. That limit can vary by plan and may apply differently to in-network and out-of-network care.

Review the maximum carefully. It can be an important part of your financial protection if you need significant medical care during the year.

Original Medicare does not have the same annual out-of-pocket limit unless you have additional coverage, such as Medigap, employer coverage, or Medicaid.

6. Understand the Part D prescription drug cap

The Part D redesign established an annual out-of-pocket cap for covered prescription drugs. You may see this described as the $2,000 Part D out-of-pocket cap, which was the initial statutory amount associated with the redesign.

However, the limit is adjusted for future years. For the 2027 plan year: the coverage you are reviewing during the 2026 AEP: Medicare’s current Medicare & You handbook lists a $2,400 cap for covered Part D drug costs. Always confirm the current limit and your plan-specific details through Medicare.gov or your plan.

The cap changes the math for people with high prescription drug costs, but it does not mean every medication is free from the beginning of the year. Your premium, deductible, formulary, drug tiers, pharmacy choice, and coverage rules still matter.

7. Mark December 7 on your calendar

The 2026 Annual Enrollment Period ends on December 7, 2026. Your plan must receive your enrollment request by the deadline for the change to generally take effect on January 1, 2027.

Give yourself time to compare options, ask questions, and confirm your enrollment. Waiting until the final day may leave less time to resolve an application issue.

Where to Get Official Medicare Information

For the most complete and current information about plans available in your area:

• Visit Medicare.gov.
• Use the official Medicare Plan Compare tool.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
• Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program through SHIPhelp.org.

Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE are the official sources for reviewing available plans, enrollment rules, and current costs.

Want Help Reviewing Your Options?

You do not have to navigate Medicare Annual Enrollment alone. You can request a free, no-obligation comparison of the plans we offer. No obligation to enroll.

Angelique Solomon can help you organize your questions, compare the plans we offer, and better understand how plan features may fit your needs. Call (334) 459-8264 or book a consultation online.

TPMO Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Important disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or medical advice. Medicare rules, plan availability, costs, benefits, provider networks, formularies, and enrollment rights can change. Your options may depend on your health coverage, state, income, eligibility, and personal circumstances. Review official information at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) before making coverage decisions.

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TPMO Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Not affiliated with Medicare or any government agency. We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or medical advice.