Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Checklist: 7 Steps to Review Your Coverage
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 every year. Here is a step-by-step checklist to review your Medicare coverage and make sure you have the best plan for next year.
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Checklist: 7 Steps to Review Your Coverage
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 every year. During this window, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans, switch Part D drug plans, move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare, or add/drop Part D coverage. Changes take effect January 1.
Many beneficiaries simply renew their current plan without reviewing it -- and end up paying more than necessary or losing coverage for their medications. This checklist ensures you make an informed decision every year.
Step 1: Read Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
By September 30, your current plan must send you an Annual Notice of Change listing every change to your plan for the coming year:
- Premium changes
- Deductible changes
- Copay and coinsurance changes
- Formulary changes (drugs added, removed, or moved to different tiers)
- Network changes (providers added or removed)
- Benefit changes (extra benefits added or reduced)
Read this document carefully. Even if your plan seems the same, details may have changed significantly.
Step 2: Update Your Medication List
Before comparing plans, compile a complete, current list of all your prescription medications:
- Drug name (brand and generic)
- Dosage (strength)
- Quantity per fill (30-day or 90-day supply)
- Frequency
Include all medications -- even ones you take occasionally. An accurate drug list is essential for accurate cost comparison.
Step 3: Confirm Your Doctors Are Still In-Network
For Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, verify that your current doctors -- primary care physician, specialists, and any hospitals you use -- are still in your plan's network for next year.
Provider networks change annually. A doctor who was in-network this year may not be in-network next year.
How to check: Call your plan's member services or check the plan's online provider directory for the upcoming plan year.
Step 4: Use Medicare Plan Finder to Compare Plans
Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare and enter your medications, pharmacies, and ZIP code. The tool will show you:
- All available plans in your area
- Estimated annual drug costs under each plan
- Monthly premiums
- Star quality ratings
Sort by estimated total annual cost -- not just premium. The plan with the lowest total cost (premium + drug costs + other cost-sharing) is usually the best value.
Step 5: Compare Your Current Plan to Alternatives
After seeing the Plan Finder results, compare your current plan to the top alternatives:
For Part D plans, compare:
- Total estimated annual drug costs
- Deductible
- Preferred pharmacy network
- Star rating
For Medicare Advantage plans, compare:
- Total estimated annual drug costs
- Monthly premium
- Out-of-pocket maximum
- Doctor and hospital network
- Extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing)
- Star rating
Step 6: Consider Whether Medicare Advantage or Medigap Is Right for You
AEP is also a time to reconsider your overall Medicare structure:
Switching from MA to Original Medicare + Medigap: You can disenroll from MA and return to Original Medicare during AEP. However, if you want Medigap, you may face medical underwriting (health questions) -- you're not guaranteed the right to buy Medigap outside of your initial enrollment period.
Switching from Medigap to MA: You can enroll in an MA plan during AEP. Your Medigap policy doesn't automatically cancel -- you must contact your Medigap insurer to cancel it.
Step 7: Make Changes by December 7
If you decide to switch plans, enroll in the new plan by December 7. Your new coverage begins January 1.
You don't need to cancel your old plan -- enrolling in a new plan automatically disenrolls you from your old one (for MA and Part D plans).
Confirmation: After enrolling, you should receive a confirmation and new member ID card. Keep this for your records.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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About the Author
William Gray
Independent Medicare BrokerUS Air Force Veteran · Florida Medicare Specialist
William Gray is an independent Medicare insurance broker based in Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, FL. A US Air Force veteran (A-10 crew chief, Germany), he spent years in corporate insurance before going independent to serve Florida seniors directly. He has helped more than 1,000 clients across Northeast Florida compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D plans — always at no cost to the client.
