Each year, folks around here in Hagerstown start wondering when does open enrollment begin? It is on October 15th and ends on December 7th 2026.
Great question. Medicare began calling the October 15 to December 7 Annual Election Period the Open Enrollment Period in commercials.
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period here in Hagerstown runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. Unfortunately, this only adds more confusion to an already confusing time. Enough complaining. Let’s discuss what you should do to navigate these enrollment periods.
If you are covered by a Medicare Advantage plan, you will want to review any changes that might occur with the renewal for next year.
Plans are required to send you a Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September to give you ample time to review any changes that might be occurring and decide whether your current plan will continue to meet your individual needs for next year.
Things that have typically changed over the years include (but not limited to):
If you are in a PPO or HMO plan, then always make sure that your doctors are planning on accepting the plan benefits during 2026.
The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) explains how your plan will change for the upcoming year.
Reviewing this document helps you avoid surprises with:
If important changes appear in the ANOC, it may be time to compare Medicare plans before the enrollment deadline.
Here in Hagerstown, during the annual election period, as we stated earlier, this is also now called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. During the period of October 15th – December 7th you can:
As you may have noticed, we did not mention anything about Medicare Supplement plans above.
The reason is that the upcoming Open Enrollment period does not affect your existing Medicare Supplement plan.
Some individuals are under the impression that they can switch Medicare Supplement carriers with no health questions during the upcoming Open Enrollment period, but this is not the case.
Does this mean that you can’t see if there is a plan that might offer you the same benefits at a lower price?
Of course not! Simply keep in mind that you will have to qualify for the new carrier’s plan.
There is great news, if you’re wondering what you should do if you already have a medicare supplement plan.
The great news is that the Annual Election Period (Medicare Open Enrollment Period) does not apply to Medicare Supplements. The reason is that each year, your Medicare Supplement core benefits will not change.
If you have a plan that covers the Part A deductible, then your plan each year will continue to cover that cost. It doesn’t matter that the Part A deductible goes up every year, because your Medicare Supplement plan will still cover it.
This means that you do not have to make any changes to your Medicare Supplement plan during this period of time.
The following short 1 minute video from CMS also provides a quick overview of the Open Enrollment period and how it relates to Medicare Health and Drug plans.
While this article is designed to give you some helpful hints of things that can be done during the Open Enrollment period, please keep in mind that this is not a complete list of items/areas that you should have reviewed.
Category 1: You are an existing client of Senior Benefit Services, Inc. The first thing you should do is review your Annual Notice Change Letter to see if there are any plan changes.
The next step would be to also take note if you had any new prescriptions added this year that are in a higher Tier pricing. While your current plan may cover it, another plan may cover the prescription at a lower Tier pricing ney.
If there are notable changes to your coverage or changes in your prescription costs, then you should contact your Senior Benefit Services advisor to schedule a review.
Many of our clients simply prefer to have a standing annual review each year for peace of mind.
Category 2 – You are not an existing client of Senior Benefit Services, Inc. but feel that our well-known top shelf service would be of great value, then feel free to call (800)924-4727 and we will have an advisor assigned to you.
Category 3 – You are someone who enjoys doing everything yourself. While this path is filled with lots of confusing information to digest and understand, you can opt to do this.
Keep in mind that you will not be saving any money since premiums are set by the plans and approved by CMS, but you can call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE for help or go to Medicare.gov and use the Plan Finder on their website.
We would enjoy having the opportunity to show you why so many Medicare beneficiaries love working with our company and have been with us for decades. You will always receive straightforward, honest advice that benefits you and not the insurance company. Contact us to make the Medicare Open Enrollment season relaxing. Remember…We Make Medicare Easy!
The short answer is yes…you should at least review your plan every year, even if you don’t end up switching.
Based on how Medicare works, plans can and do change each year. That includes premiums, drug coverage, doctor networks, and out-of-pocket costs. If you skip reviewing your plan, you could unknowingly walk into higher costs or lose coverage for a prescription you rely on.
According to Medicare.gov, the Annual Election Period (October 15 – December 7) is specifically designed for you to make changes if your current plan no longer fits your needs. This includes switching Medicare Advantage plans or Part D drug plans.
Practically speaking, staying put is fine if everything still works. But not reviewing your plan at all…that’s where people run into trouble.
Comparing Medicare plans comes down to three key areas: cost, coverage, and convenience.
Medicare.gov recommends using the official Plan Finder tool to compare plans side by side based on your prescriptions, doctors, and preferred pharmacies. This allows you to see estimated total yearly costs, not just the monthly premium.
Here’s the clean way to look at it. A plan with a $0 premium might look great upfront, but if it has higher co-pays or doesn’t cover your prescriptions well, it could cost you more over the course of the year.
In our experience, the best approach is to look at the full scenario. Monthly premium + drug costs + doctor visits + maximum out-of-pocket exposure. That gives you a real picture of what you’re likely to spend.
The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is one of the most important documents you’ll receive each year.
Medicare requires plans to send this notice by the end of September so you have time to review changes before Open Enrollment begins. According to Medicare.gov, the ANOC outlines any changes to costs, coverage, and provider networks for the upcoming year.
The biggest things you want to look for are changes to your prescription drug formulary, increases in co-pays, changes to your doctor network, and your plan’s maximum out-of-pocket limit.
Heck, even a small change in drug tier pricing can significantly impact your monthly costs. This is where many people get caught off guard if they don’t review it carefully.
Yes, and this is your main window to make those changes.
From October 15 through December 7, Medicare allows you to switch Medicare Advantage plans, change Part D drug plans, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Any changes you make will take effect on January 1 of the following year.
Medicare.gov clearly states that once December 7 passes, your options become much more limited unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
So if you’re thinking about making a change, this is the time to do it. Waiting too long can lock you into a plan that may not be the best fit for the entire next year.
The open enrollment period can be very confusing to many folks. Senior Benefit Services, Inc. can help make it is a simple as possible. Feel free to contact us at (800)924-4727 to be connected to your own personal advisor.
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