Every fall, mailboxes across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties fill up with envelopes stamped “Important Plan Information Enclosed.” For many seniors, those letters get set aside, unopened, until December. That single habit is one of the most expensive mistakes a Medicare beneficiary can make.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. It’s the one window each year when nearly every Medicare beneficiary can review their coverage and make a change for the upcoming plan year, with any updates taking effect January 1, 2027. Whether you’re happy with your current plan or not, this seven-week stretch deserves your attention. Here’s how to walk into it prepared instead of scrambling.
What AEP Actually Lets You Do
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Drop a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.
- Enroll in, switch, or drop a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
One common point of confusion: Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans don’t have a dedicated AEP enrollment window the way Medicare Advantage and Part D do. You can apply for or change a Medigap policy at any point in the year, but outside of specific guaranteed-issue situations, approval is typically subject to medical underwriting. That’s worth knowing before you assume AEP is your only chance to look at supplement options.
Why Your Plan Can Change Even If You Don’t Touch It
Here’s the part that catches people off guard: your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan can change its premium, deductible, copays, drug formulary, or provider network from one year to the next, even if you never lift a finger. Insurance carriers file new benefit designs every year, and what worked perfectly for you in 2026 may look entirely different in 2027.
That’s why plans are required to send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by September 30 each year, about two weeks before AEP opens. This document spells out exactly what’s changing about your coverage for the coming year. It’s easy to skim past, but it’s genuinely the most important piece of mail you’ll get all autumn.
Your Interactive Pre-AEP Checklist
Print out this document and use the checkboxes below to track your preparation before October 15 arrives so you are never rushed.
| Done | Checklist Action Item & Local Details |
| ☐ | Find and read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Look specifically at premium changes, deductible changes, and any shifts to your drug formulary or provider network. If a medication you take moved to a higher cost tier, or a doctor you see dropped out of network, that’s an immediate signal to shop around. |
| ☐ | Make a current medication list. Include drug names, exact dosages, and how often you fill them. When you or your broker compare plans, this list is what actually drives an accurate cost comparison, far more than the plan’s advertised premium. |
| ☐ | Confirm your doctors and hospitals are still in-network. Provider networks shift year to year, sometimes significantly. If you have a trusted local cardiologist, oncologist, or specialist you don’t want to lose, verify their network status directly rather than assuming last year’s answer still holds. |
| ☐ | Total up your real annual costs, not just the premium. A plan with a lower monthly premium can easily cost more over the year once you factor in deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for the care you actually use. Look at the whole financial picture. |
| ☐ | Note any travel plans for the coming year. If you split time outside Northwest Florida or travel regularly to visit family, ask how your plan handles care outside its service area. This matters more for Medicare Advantage plans than for Medigap, since Medigap generally travels with you nationwide. |
| ☐ | Watch for the Medicare Part D $2,100 out-of-pocket cap. In 2026, once your covered drug costs hit $2,100 in a calendar year, you pay nothing more ($0) for covered prescriptions for the rest of that year. If you take expensive medications, understanding how close you typically come to that cap can meaningfully affect which plan makes the most sense. |
| ☐ | Be alert for plans exiting the market. Some carriers reduce their service areas or leave certain Florida counties altogether each year. If this happens to your plan, you’ll receive a notice and qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), but it’s better to know ahead of time than to find out via a surprise letter. |
| ☐ | Check on dental, vision, and hearing benefits separately. Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care, so many Medicare Advantage plans build in supplemental benefits to fill that gap. If those extras matter to you, don’t just check that a plan ‘has’ them; look at the actual dollar allowance and whether your preferred Pensacola or Pace dentist is in the plan’s supplemental network. |
| ☐ | Ask about the plan’s Star Rating. CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D plans on a 1-to-5 star scale each year based on quality and member experience. It shouldn’t be the only factor driving your decision, but a plan with a consistently low rating is worth a second look before you commit. |
Timing Your Review
- Late September – Early October: The right time to read your ANOC and pull together your medication list.
- Early to Mid-October: A great window to sit down with a local broker or start comparing plans on your own, before the phone lines and calendars get flooded.
- November: Leaves you a comfortable buffer for questions or a second look, rather than a frantic scramble in the final days before December 7. Beneficiaries who wait until the first week of December often end up choosing the first plan that looks ‘good enough’ simply because time ran out.
A Word on AEP Marketing
October also brings a massive wave of mailers, TV ads, and phone calls promoting Medicare plans. Legitimate agents and carriers must follow strict CMS marketing rules, but AEP season also draws scammers looking to catch seniors off guard.
Never give out your Medicare number to someone who calls you unsolicited, and be highly cautious of any offer that sounds too good to be true. If you’re ever unsure whether an offer or call is legitimate, an independent local broker or Medicare.gov are much safer starting points than a random number on a TV commercial.
What If You Do Nothing?
If you’re entirely satisfied with your coverage after reviewing your ANOC, you don’t have to make a change. Your current plan will simply roll over into the new year. But “doing nothing” should be an informed decision, not a default born from an unopened envelope. Even a fifteen-minute review can confirm you’re still in the right plan, or reveal that you could be saving hundreds of dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does AEP start and end this year?
AEP runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any changes made during this window take effect January 1, 2027.
Can I change my Medigap plan during AEP?
Yes, you can apply for a Medigap policy at any time of year, including during AEP. However, outside of certain guaranteed-issue periods, the carrier can typically ask health questions and may decline coverage or adjust pricing based on your medical history.
What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline?
If you have Original Medicare, you’re generally locked into your current arrangement until the next AEP, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll have one more opportunity between January 1 and March 31 to switch plans or return to Original Medicare through the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP), though that window has stricter rules than AEP.
Do I need to do anything if I’m happy with my current plan?
You’re not required to, but it’s still highly recommended to read your Annual Notice of Change. Plans change their costs and coverage details every single year, so ‘happy last year’ doesn’t guarantee ‘still the best fit this year.’
Is there a cost to get help comparing plans?
No. Working with a licensed independent broker costs you nothing. Compensation comes from the insurance carrier, not from you, and an independent broker can compare plans across multiple companies rather than representing just one single brand.
Suggested Internal Links
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement: Which Is Right for You?
- Understanding Your Medicare Summary Notice
- IRMAA and How to Appeal It
How AJ Health & Wealth Can Help
AEP is a lot to sort through alone, especially when you’re trying to compare formularies, provider networks, and out-of-pocket costs across multiple plans at once. As a licensed independent Medicare broker serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including Pace, Milton, Pensacola, Jay, and Gulf Breeze, AJ Health and Wealth can walk through your Annual Notice of Change with you, check your medications and doctors against current plan networks, and lay out your options in plain terms, at no cost to you.
| Ready to Review Your Medicare Options Before AEP Ends? Get a free, no-obligation review of your Annual Notice of Change and plan options. Call: (850) 316-4378 Schedule Online: [Click Here] |
AJ Health and Wealth is not connected with the Federal Medicare program. By contacting this number, you will be connected with a licensed insurance agent. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.