5 Things to Do Before Medicare AEP Begins on October 15
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period can feel overwhelming if you wait until October to start preparing. With plan costs, prescription coverage, provider networks, and benefits potentially changing for the new year, giving yourself time to review your options can make the process much easier.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, also called Medicare Open Enrollment, runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this period, eligible beneficiaries can make certain changes to their Medicare health and prescription drug coverage. Changes generally take effect January 1 of the following year.
For 2026, AEP begins October 15, 2026, and beneficiaries will be reviewing their coverage for 2027.
You don't have to change your Medicare plan during AEP. If your current coverage continues to meet your needs, you can generally keep it. But Medicare itself recommends reviewing your coverage because costs and benefits can change from year to year.
Here are five practical steps to help you get organized.
1. Gather Your Medicare Plan Documents
Before comparing anything, gather the documents related to your current Medicare coverage.
If you're enrolled in Medicare Advantage or a Medicare prescription drug plan, one of the most important documents to look for is your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).
Medicare says plans send the ANOC each fall, generally in September. It explains changes to your coverage, costs, and other plan details that will take effect in January.
When you receive your ANOC, don't simply file it away.
Use it as your starting point for an annual coverage review.
Look for changes involving:
- Monthly premiums
- Deductibles
- Copayments and coinsurance
- Provider networks
- Prescription drug coverage
- Pharmacy networks
- Supplemental benefits
- Coverage rules
You may also receive an Evidence of Coverage (EOC) document. While the ANOC gives you an overview of what is changing, the EOC provides more detailed information about how your plan works.
If you notice a change in the ANOC that you don't understand, the EOC may provide additional details.
Why Do This Before AEP?
Having your current plan information available makes it much easier to compare your existing coverage with your 2027 options.
Instead of starting from scratch in October, you'll already know what changed and what areas you need to investigate.
This also connects directly with the Tuesday article in this AEP cluster, What Should You Review Before Choosing a Medicare Plan During AEP?, which goes deeper into comparing providers, costs, benefits, and coverage.
2. Make an Updated List of Your Medications
If you have Medicare prescription drug coverage, your medication list should be one of the first things you prepare.
Don't rely on memory.
Write down every prescription you currently take, including the medication name, dosage, and how often you take it.
If you use multiple pharmacies, note those as well.
Then, when 2027 plan information becomes available, you can compare your actual prescriptions against each plan's formulary.
Medicare Part D plans have formularies that list the prescription drugs they cover. Plans can also use different drug tiers and coverage rules that affect what you pay.
This matters because your prescription coverage may change even if you remain enrolled in the same plan.
A medication could move to a different tier, have different cost-sharing, or become subject to coverage requirements.
3. Review Your Doctors and Healthcare Needs
Your Medicare review shouldn't be based only on insurance documents.
Think about how you actually use healthcare.
Start by making a list of the doctors and specialists you regularly see.
You may want to include:
- Primary care providers
- Specialists
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Physical therapists
- Other healthcare professionals you see regularly
If you're considering Medicare Advantage, check whether these providers participate in the plan's network.
This is particularly important if you have an established relationship with a specialist or receive ongoing treatment.
A plan with a lower monthly premium may not be as useful to you if your preferred doctor is no longer available through the network.
Think About Next Year's Healthcare Needs Too
Your review should also look ahead.
Ask yourself whether you already know about healthcare services you may need in 2027.
For example, perhaps your doctor has recommended a procedure, you expect to see a specialist more frequently, or you're beginning treatment for a condition.
You can't predict every healthcare need, but known or expected care should be part of your review.
Medicare itself notes that health conditions, new prescription drugs, new providers, or a new diagnosis can change someone's coverage needs from one year to another.
This is one reason AEP shouldn't be treated as simply a yearly renewal exercise.
Your coverage should reflect your current situation.
4. Review Your Costs and Benefits
Before comparing plans, take a look at what you actually spent on healthcare this year.
Review your:
- Monthly premiums
- Doctor visit copayments
- Specialist costs
- Prescription expenses
- Deductibles
- Coinsurance
- Other significant healthcare expenses
Then compare those costs with the benefits you actually used.
This can give you a more realistic picture of whether your current plan is working for you.
Don't Focus Only on the Monthly Premium
A lower monthly premium doesn't automatically mean lower overall healthcare costs.
For example, a plan with a lower premium could have higher costs for specialist visits or prescription medications.
Another plan might have a slightly higher premium but provide coverage that better matches the services you use regularly.
The goal is to look at the overall cost and value of the coverage, not just one number.
Medicare Advantage plans can set their own premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing amounts within Medicare's rules, so these details can vary between plans.
Review Benefits You Actually Use
Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits depending on the plan.
These can include services related to dental, vision, hearing, fitness, transportation, or other areas.
If you currently use one of these benefits, check whether the benefit is changing for 2027.
Don't assume that because a benefit was available this year, it will operate in exactly the same way next year.
This is another reason your ANOC is so important.
5. Mark the Important AEP Dates and Compare Your Options
Once you've gathered your information, put the important Medicare dates on your calendar.
For the 2026 AEP:
October 1, 2026: Start reviewing your plan notices and previewing available plan options.
October 15, 2026: Medicare Open Enrollment begins.
December 7, 2026: Open Enrollment ends.
January 1, 2027: New coverage generally begins for changes made during AEP.
Medicare specifically recommends getting ready around October 1 by reviewing notices about cost and benefit changes and using Medicare's Plan Compare tool to preview options for the upcoming year.
This means you don't necessarily have to wait until October 15 to begin your research
Don't Assume Your Current Plan Will Stay the Same
One of the biggest reasons to prepare for AEP is that Medicare coverage can change from year to year.
Medicare explicitly reminds beneficiaries that Medicare costs and benefits can change each year.
For 2027, there are also broader changes occurring within the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs.
CMS finalized 2027 policies affecting Medicare Advantage and Part D, including updates to quality measurements and certain enrollment processes.
CMS also released preliminary 2027 Part D bid information on July 28, 2026. The agency said final 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan offerings and premiums are expected to be released in mid-to-late September once offerings are finalized.
That makes September an important month for beneficiaries preparing for AEP.
However, broader Medicare changes don't tell you exactly what your individual plan will cost or cover.
Your plan's own documents and the official Medicare plan comparison information are what matter most for your personal decision.
What If You Decide to Keep Your Current Plan?
Preparing for AEP doesn't mean you have to change your Medicare coverage.
If you review your plan and determine that it still meets your healthcare needs, you can generally keep it.
Medicare's guidance says that if someone chooses to keep their current Medicare health and drug coverage, they generally don't need to take action simply because Open Enrollment arrives. Their coverage will continue, although any new costs or benefit changes will take effect in January.
The important part is making that decision after reviewing the changes.
Staying with your current plan can be a perfectly reasonable choice.
Automatically staying without checking, however, could leave you unaware of changes that may affect your healthcare costs or access.
What If You Decide to Change Plans?
If your review shows that another plan may better fit your needs, AEP gives eligible beneficiaries an opportunity to make certain changes.
During Open Enrollment, beneficiaries can generally:
- Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Change Medicare drug plans if enrolled in Original Medicare.
- Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage.
- Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
If you switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, remember that you may need separate prescription drug coverage and may want Medigap coverage. Medicare notes that Medigap has its own enrollment rules and limits on when certain protections apply.
So, changing plans shouldn't be treated as a simple one-click decision.
Review the complete coverage picture before enrolling.
Conclusion
Preparing for Medicare AEP doesn't have to mean spending weeks comparing every plan available.
A good preparation process starts with understanding your own healthcare needs.
Before October 15, gather your plan documents, update your medication list, review your doctors and healthcare needs, examine your current costs and benefits, and mark the important AEP dates.
Once the 2027 plan information becomes available, you'll have a much clearer foundation for comparing your options.
And remember: AEP is about reviewing your coverage, not automatically changing it.
If your current plan continues to meet your needs, keeping it may be the right decision. If your costs, prescriptions, providers, or healthcare needs have changed, AEP gives you an opportunity to explore other eligible options.
Starting early simply gives you more time to make that decision carefully.
The best Medicare plan decision is one you make with a clear understanding of what you need—not one you make because the December 7 deadline is approaching.
Get Ready for Medicare AEP With Confidence
Medicare AEP gives you an opportunity to make sure your coverage continues to fit your healthcare needs for the coming year. Taking time to review your plan, medications, providers, and costs can make the process easier and help you avoid last-minute decisions.
If you have questions about Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare, Part D, or your coverage options, schedule a consultation.
For more educational information about Medicare and health insurance, visit Belle Vida Insurance.