Give the review a starting point
Annual Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. For the 2026 window, changes generally take effect January 1, 2027. It is a chance to review Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage; it is different from signing up for Medicare for the first time.
Begin with a simple folder, on paper or on your computer. Put your current plan name, a current prescription list and questions you have been meaning to ask in one place. The goal is to make the next conversation easier.
Read your current plan’s changes first
Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change arrives each fall and describes changes taking effect in January. If you do not receive it, ask your plan for a copy. Read it with a pen or a notes document open.
Rather than trying to memorize the whole notice, make three headings: things staying useful, things changing, and things needing confirmation. Include costs, drug coverage, benefits and anything that affects how you get care. A question mark is a useful result if it tells you what to verify next.
Compare with the same set of questions
Choose a small number of alternatives and use the same worksheet for each. Keep the same medication list and pharmacy choices in each comparison. Write down the plan year and identifier so you do not accidentally compare similar names from different years.
Leave room for the answer “not confirmed.” That is more useful than assuming a favorite doctor or medication is covered because it was covered last year. Ask the plan and provider directly when details conflict.
End with a record of your decision
If you make a change, keep the confirmation and ask when coverage begins. Save the relevant documents with the worksheet. If you stay with your current plan, keep the reasons you chose to stay; they can make next year’s review easier.
Do not cancel existing coverage casually while comparing options. Employer, retiree and supplemental coverage can have separate rules. Confirm the effect of a change with the organization responsible for that coverage before you act.
Sources & further reading
Medicare plan enrollment periods ↗Annual Notice of Change ↗Sources checked October 14, 2026. Check current official guidance and your plan documents before acting.
This is general education. Your plan, Medicare or Social Security can confirm the rules for your circumstances. Our editorial policy explains how we use sources.