Enrollment & Timing
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period: what it means for you
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What this window is
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is the fall window when many people can change coverage for the year ahead. It runs October 15 through December 7 each year.
During this window, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans, join or change a Part D drug plan, move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare. Changes generally take effect January 1.
If you are happy with your current coverage, you usually do not have to do anything. Your plan may continue into the new year on its own. But "doing nothing" is still worth doing on purpose, because a plan can change even when you do not.
Your plan's Annual Notice of Change is the document to read first. It tells you what will be different in January, including changes to coverage, costs, and other plan details.
What to actually do
Before you renew by default or switch because something caught your eye, check the parts of your coverage that affect daily life.
- Review your Annual Notice of Change before deciding.
- Confirm your doctors and hospitals for the new plan year.
- Check your medications, drug tiers, and preferred pharmacy.
- Look for changes to copays, deductibles, prior authorization, and out-of-pocket limits.
- Do not switch for a single perk without checking the tradeoffs.
- If you are considering leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, pause and check whether Medigap access could be affected.
The point is not to panic. The point is to notice what changed before someone else turns the window into a sales pitch.
See what's open to you
If you are not sure which changes you can make this fall, start with What's Open to You. It maps the window you are in and helps you see the next question before you start comparing plan names.
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What's Open to You
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ANOC Reader
Will help you spot what changed in your Annual Notice of Change before you decide anything.
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Common questions
When is Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period?
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 every year. Changes made during this window generally take effect January 1.
What can I change during Annual Enrollment?
You can switch Medicare Advantage plans, join or change a Part D drug plan, move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare. The exact choice available to you depends on what coverage you have now.
What happens if I do nothing?
Your current coverage may continue into the new year. But the plan's costs, network, drug list, benefits, or rules may change, so review your Annual Notice of Change before deciding to stay put.
Is this the same as Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment?
No. Annual Enrollment is the fall window for broader Medicare Advantage and Part D changes. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 through March 31 and is narrower because it is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.