Medicare Open Enrollment Is Coming. Here’s What You Can Change and When

Medicare Open Enrollment happens every fall, but knowing that it’s coming doesn’t necessarily tell you whether you need to do anything.

For most people with Medicare, the important dates are October 15 through December 7. During this period, you have an opportunity to review your current coverage and make changes for the following year.

You don't have to change plans simply because Open Enrollment arrives. But if your costs, prescriptions, doctors or benefits are changing, this is the time to make sure the coverage you have still makes sense.

What Can You Change During Medicare Open Enrollment?

From October 15 through December 7, you can:

Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

Move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.

Join, switch or drop a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

Changes made during this period generally take effect January 1.

If you're weighing Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement plan against Medicare Advantage, we've put together a separate comparison that walks through how those two approaches differ and what to consider before choosing between them.

Before October 15, Look for This Letter

You don't have to wait until Open Enrollment begins to start reviewing your coverage.

If you're enrolled in a Medicare plan, you should receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September. This explains what your plan is changing for the coming year, including changes to costs, coverage and other plan details. This is one piece of Medicare mail that's worth taking a closer look at.

A higher premium may be obvious, but changes to your prescription coverage, provider network or out-of-pocket costs can be just as important when deciding whether your current plan still works for you.

Already Have Medicare Advantage? You Get Another Opportunity

There is a second enrollment period specifically for people who are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31.

During that time, you can make one change by switching to another Medicare Advantage plan or leaving Medicare Advantage and returning to Original Medicare. If you return to Original Medicare, you can also join a separate Medicare drug plan.

This isn't a second general Open Enrollment period. If you have Original Medicare, you can't use the January through March Medicare Advantage window to switch into Medicare Advantage.

Turning 65? Your Timeline Is Different

If you're approaching Medicare for the first time, the October 15–December 7 dates may not be the ones that matter most to you.

Your Initial Enrollment Period generally lasts seven months, beginning three months before the month you turn 65, including your birthday month, and continuing for three months afterward.

When you enroll can affect when your coverage begins, and waiting too long can sometimes result in coverage gaps or late-enrollment penalties.

If you're new to Medicare, it's better to start planning around your own eligibility date rather than waiting for fall Open Enrollment.

Do You Actually Need to Change Anything This Fall?

Maybe not. Open Enrollment isn't a requirement to find a new plan every year. It's an opportunity to make sure the plan you already have still works.

Take a look at what you'll pay next year. Check that your prescriptions are still covered the way you expect. Make sure the doctors and pharmacies you want to use are still in-network when your plan uses a network. And pay attention to benefits you regularly use.

If everything still fits, staying with your current coverage may make sense.

If something important has changed, October 15 through December 7 is your opportunity to do something about it.

And if you're not sure what those changes mean for you, Medicare Resource Center can help you review your options and understand what makes sense for the year ahead by talking to one of our Medicare Pros.