Every fall, Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7. It's the one stretch of the year when nearly everyone on Medicare can change plans freely — and when it closes, most people are locked in until the following fall.
The last two weeks of the window are when I get the panic calls. Here's the checklist I walk through with clients in Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope, and Pensacola so December 7 doesn't sneak up on them.
1. Re-read that plain envelope from your carrier
The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) lists everything that changes on January 1: premium, deductible, copays, maximum out-of-pocket, drug tiers, and extras like dental or vision. If you've set it aside, pull it out now. It takes fifteen minutes to read and it answers most questions before they're asked.
2. Check your prescriptions against the 2027 formulary
Drug lists change every year — a medication that was Tier 2 can move to Tier 3, or drop off the formulary entirely. In the final weeks of AEP, run your exact drug list through the plan's 2027 lookup. This single check is the most common source of mid-year surprises I see.
3. Confirm your doctors are still in-network
Networks shift every January, and they don't always shift the same way in Baldwin County as they do in Escambia County, Florida. Call the office or check the plan's 2027 provider directory — not last year's. If you've started seeing a new specialist this year, verify them specifically.
Talk to a local Medicare agent — free.
No cost to compare every plan in your zip code.
Call (251) 279-70074. Look at your total cost, not just the premium
A $0-premium Advantage plan with high copays can cost more over a year than a plan with a modest premium and predictable cost-sharing — especially if you see specialists regularly or have an upcoming procedure. Add up: premium + deductible + expected copays + drug costs. Compare that total across two or three plans before December 7.
5. Don't make a move you can't undo
One caution I give every client: AEP does not guarantee you a new Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window and a handful of guaranteed-issue situations, carriers in Alabama and Florida can medically underwrite a Supplement application — and decline you. If you're on a Supplement and thinking about switching to Advantage, make sure it's really what you want, because getting back may not be possible.
What happens after December 7
- Changes made by December 7 take effect January 1.
- After AEP closes, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) lets you make exactly one switch: from an Advantage plan back to Original Medicare (with or without a drug plan), or to a different Advantage plan. That's it — one change, and Part D changes aren't included.
- Outside those windows you need a Special Enrollment Period, and most of those are tied to specific life events.
The easiest step: a free fifteen-minute review
Bring your ANOC letter and your drug list, and I'll run the comparison across the carriers I represent — Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Part D — side by side. There's never a charge, and there's no obligation to change anything. Sometimes the answer is "your current plan is still the best one," and that's worth knowing before the window closes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Medicare AEP deadline? December 7. Changes made by then take effect January 1. After that, most beneficiaries are locked in until the following fall.
Can I change Medicare plans after December 7? Only in limited ways: during the January 1 – March 31 Advantage Open Enrollment Period you get one switch (to a different Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare). Drug-plan changes generally require a Special Enrollment Period.
Is Medicare AEP the same as ACA open enrollment? No. Medicare AEP is October 15 – December 7. ACA Marketplace open enrollment is November 1 – January 15. Households with one spouse on each need to track both.
How much does it cost to have an agent review my Medicare plan? Nothing. Reviews and enrollment help from a licensed independent agent are free — we're compensated by the carriers, not by you.
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