When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?

AEP runs October 15 through December 7 every year. Any plan changes you make during this window take effect on January 1.

What's the difference between AEP and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

AEP (Oct 15 – Dec 7) lets anyone on Medicare change almost any plan. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1 – Mar 31) is narrower — it only lets people already on a Medicare Advantage plan switch to a different Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare with a standalone Part D.

Do I have to change plans during AEP?

No. If your current plan still works for you and the 2027 changes look acceptable, you can do nothing and stay enrolled. But you should still review your Annual Notice of Change carefully — premiums, copays, and drug formularies change every year.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare plus Medigap during AEP?

You can drop your Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare during AEP or the Medicare Advantage OEP. However, Medigap insurers can use medical underwriting outside your initial 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment, which means acceptance isn't guaranteed. Some states have more protective rules — we'll flag yours if it applies.

Medicare · AEP 2026 planning

AEP prep tips — how to review your Medicare plan before October 15.

7 min read · Updated April 2026 · By licensed SilverEdge advisors

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7. It's the one stretch of the year you can change almost any Medicare plan decision — and the decisions you make now take effect January 1. Here's exactly what to review, the checklist we walk every client through, and the mistakes we see people make every fall.

Key takeaways

AEP runs Oct 15 – Dec 7 — every Medicare beneficiary can switch Advantage or Part D plans, effective Jan 1
Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) when it arrives in late September — premiums, formulary, and networks all shift each year
Re-run your full medication list against next year's formulary — a single tier change can cost hundreds of dollars
Verify each doctor / hospital is in-network for your specific plan name for next year — networks can change annually
Decide by Dec 1. Don't wait until the buzzer — plan changes need paperwork, and last-week mistakes are hard to fix

Plans change every year. Your needs do too.

Your 2026 plan is not your 2027 plan — even if you don't touch anything.

Each September, carriers send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) listing every modification to your plan for the coming year:

New monthly premium
Updated deductibles, copays, and max out-of-pocket
Revised drug formulary — medications added, dropped, or moved to higher tiers
Changes to provider and pharmacy networks
Changes to supplemental benefits like dental, vision, hearing, OTC allowance, and transportation

People who skip the ANOC often discover in January that their favorite prescription jumped from Tier 2 to Tier 4, or that their cardiologist is no longer in-network. AEP is the time to catch those changes — not February.

The checklist

Your AEP plan-change checklist

Walk through each item before October 15. By the time enrollment opens, you'll know whether to stay, switch, or run a deeper comparison.

1. Read your ANOC when it arrives

It usually shows up by late September. Compare this year's numbers to next year's, line by line. Focus on the three big ones: monthly premium, annual drug deductible, and max out-of-pocket.

2. Re-run your medication list

Write down every medication you take, including dosage and frequency. Check whether each one is still on the plan's formulary for next year — and at what tier. A single specialty drug moving up two tiers can change a plan from "best" to "worst" overnight.

3. Verify your doctors and hospitals

Networks shift annually. Call each provider's billing office directly and ask whether they'll be in-network for your specific plan name next year. "We take Medicare" and "we're in your plan's network" are not the same sentence.

4. Add up last year's total cost

Pull your pharmacy receipts and Explanation of Benefits statements. What did you actually pay in 2026 — premium + copays + deductible + drug costs? That real-world total is the number to beat, not the sticker premium.

5. Re-check supplemental benefits

Advantage plans shift dental, vision, OTC, fitness, and flex-card benefits every year. If you signed up for a plan because of a $125/quarter OTC card and it's dropping to $50, that's a meaningful change.

6. Decide by December 1

Don't wait until December 7 at 11:59 PM. Call volumes spike the last week, plan changes require paperwork, and mistakes at the buzzer are hard to fix. Aim to finalize by the first week of December.

Want a licensed advisor to run your AEP review with you?

Send us your current plan name + medication list — we'll compare next year's formulary, network, and total cost against every other plan in your ZIP. Free and no pressure to switch.

Call (866) 534-1886 Request a callback

When to switch

Reasons most people switch — and reasons that don't hold up

Good reasons to switch plans

One of your medications is moving to a non-preferred or excluded tier
A key doctor, specialist, or hospital is leaving your network
Your monthly premium or max out-of-pocket is jumping significantly
You've moved, or you're planning to move, outside your plan's service area
Your health changed (new diagnosis, new specialists, more prescriptions)
A competitor in your ZIP is offering meaningfully better drug coverage or network

Reasons that usually aren't worth a switch

A mailer that looks urgent — most are marketing, not plan notices
A $5 premium difference with no other improvement
A plan with a flashy new gym benefit you probably won't use
A neighbor's recommendation — their prescriptions and doctors aren't yours

Switching has real costs: new ID cards, resetting deductibles, re-authorizing prescriptions, and sometimes re-establishing prior authorizations. A switch should earn its keep.

After AEP

If you change your mind in January

AEP closes December 7. But the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. During OEP, if you're already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change:

Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or
Drop Advantage and go back to Original Medicare (with a standalone Part D plan if needed)

If you're on Original Medicare with a Medigap plans, OEP doesn't apply — you'd need a qualifying Special Enrollment Period to make changes. That's why AEP is the window to get right.

Common questions

Frequently asked

If I do nothing during AEP, what happens?

You'll stay on your current plan, with whatever changes the carrier made for the new year as outlined in your ANOC. For many people that's fine. For others, it means quietly paying more for worse coverage. Either way, the choice should be conscious.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Medigap during AEP?

You can drop Advantage and return to Original Medicare during AEP. Buying a Medigap plan is a separate question — outside your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment at 65, insurers can use medical underwriting in most states. Some states have guaranteed-issue rules that help. We'll tell you what applies to you.

Will I get a new Medicare card if I switch plans?

Your red, white, and blue Medicare card stays the same. If you switch to a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you'll get a new plan ID card from the new carrier before January 1. Carry both.

What if I miss the December 7 deadline?

You generally have to wait until the next AEP unless a life event qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period. If you're on Advantage, you may still use the Jan 1 – Mar 31 OEP to make one switch.

Want a second set of eyes on your plan?

Talk through your options with a licensed SilverEdge advisor. We'll run your meds, doctors, and ZIP through every plan available — and tell you whether your current plan is still the right one for 2027.

(866) 534-1886 Request a callback