October 15 to December 7, 2026 · Piedmont Triad
Annual Enrollment is open. Let's review your coverage
Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. This is the window most people call Medicare open enrollment. Talk with Christian Brinkley about your 2027 doctors, prescriptions, and costs. Free, in person or by phone.
Free consultation. No obligation to enroll.
I’m 21. I’m a licensed NC insurance agent in Greensboro.
Your plan's September letter
Got your ANOC letter? Don't just file it away.
Every fall, Medicare Advantage plans mail you an Annual Notice of Change, a letter explaining what's different about your plan next year. Your premium, your drug costs, your doctor network: any of it can change on January 1, and the letter is how you find out.
Start with what changes next year. Bring the letter and your questions, and we can go through it together.
Here's what to do: bring it to me. I'll sit down with you, in person or by phone, and translate it into plain English. What's changing, what it costs you, and whether it still fits your doctors and prescriptions. Free. No pressure to switch plans, no obligation to enroll in anything.
If your plan still looks good, I'll tell you so. If something changed that matters to you, I'll talk through your options before the December 7 deadline.
Free consultation. No obligation to enroll. No call centers, just me.
Why review your plan this fall
Your Medicare plan doesn't stay the same from year to year, even if you loved it this year. Every fall, plans update their premiums, deductibles, copays, drug lists, and doctor networks for the coming year. Your plan sent you a letter in September (called an “Annual Notice of Change”) spelling out exactly what's different for 2027. Bring it with you so I can go through it with you.
That's what a fall review is for. I go through that letter with you, line by line, and you decide whether your plan still fits, or whether something else fits better. No obligation either way.
New to how the fall window works? Read the full annual enrollment guide.
What I check for you
Bring your current plan information and a list of your prescriptions. I'll discuss what needs checking and arrange any required paperwork before reviewing specific plans:
- 1
Your plan's 2027 changes
What your Annual Notice of Change actually says, in plain English: premiums, deductibles, copays, and anything else that's different next year.
- 2
Your prescriptions
Check each medicine, its dose, your pharmacy, and any coverage requirements against the coming year's plan documents.
- 3
Your doctors
Whether your doctors and preferred hospitals are still in your plan's network for 2027. "Takes Medicare" and "in my plan's network" are two different things.
- 4
Your total costs
Compare the premium, deductible, copays, and coinsurance with the care and prescriptions you expect to use.
- 5
Your drug plan
If you have a standalone Part D plan, review its coming-year premium, covered medicines, pharmacy options, and expected costs.
Wondering what the numbers look like next year? See what Medicare costs, and if keeping your doctors is the top priority, here's how to check your plan's network properly.
How a review works with me
Here's exactly what happens, no surprises:
- 1
You reach out
Send a quick request, or call me at (919) 408-6671. Tell me a time that works for you.
- 2
I listen to your questions
In person around Greensboro, or by phone if that's easier. Bring your plan letter and your medication list if you have them.
- 3
I walk you through your options
In plain language. I answer your questions. You decide.
- 4
That's it
There's no fee for the conversation and no obligation to enroll or change your coverage.
When you reach out, you talk to Christian Brinkley, a licensed insurance agent here in Greensboro and an accounting student at UNCG. I'm one person, not a call center, and I personally answer every inquiry.
Open enrollment in Greensboro and Guilford County
I am based in Greensboro and serve Guilford County and nearby communities. We can arrange a conversation in person or by phone. If you are in High Point, Winston-Salem, or Kernersville, I come to you too. Folks in Burlington get the same help by phone or in person. The review works the same everywhere in the Triad.
One local detail worth knowing: Medicare Advantage plan lineups can differ between Guilford County and neighboring Forsyth County. A plan your friend in Winston-Salem mentions may not be available at your Greensboro address, or may cost something different. I check availability at your home address, not someone else's.
If your doctors are at Cone Health, Novant, or a private practice in town, bring their names. I will confirm each one against next year's plan documents together, so there are no surprises in January.
What happens after December 7
Annual Enrollment closes on December 7, and any changes you make take effect January 1. After the 7th, your options to change coverage are limited for the rest of the year, so if you want to review your plan, the fall window is the time to do it.
If a life change, a move, losing employer coverage, already opened a window for you, you may not need to wait for fall. See how special enrollment works.
Annual Enrollment facts, with sources
- The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 a month. Source: CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles.
- The Part B deductible in 2026 is $283 a year. Source: CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles.
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7. Changes start January 1. Source: Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment.
- The Part B late enrollment penalty is 10% of the standard premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B and didn't. It usually lasts as long as you have Part B. Source: Medicare.gov: Avoid late enrollment penalties.
- The Part D late enrollment penalty is 1% of the national base premium ($38.99 in 2026) for each full month without creditable drug coverage, once a gap reaches 63 days. Source: Medicare.gov: Avoid late enrollment penalties.
- Part D out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 in 2026. Source: CMS: Final CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions.
A quick word on cost
The consultation is free. If you enroll in a plan through me, the insurance company pays me a commission, your premium is exactly the same as if you'd enrolled on your own. You just get a local human instead of a 1-800 number.
Questions I get every fall
- What is Medicare Annual Enrollment?
- Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Eligible people can change Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage for the following calendar year.
- Do I have to change my plan?
- Changing Medicare plans during Annual Enrollment is optional. Review next year's doctors, prescriptions, and costs before deciding whether your existing coverage still fits.
- What can I change during Annual Enrollment?
- Medicare Annual Enrollment permits eligible changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage. Buying Medigap has separate protections, application requirements, and potential health underwriting.
- Does it cost anything to meet with you?
- My initial Medicare consultation is free with no obligation to enroll. Insurance companies pay me a commission if you choose a plan through me.
- What should I bring to a Medicare review?
- Bring your Annual Notice of Change, prescription list, preferred pharmacy, and doctor names to a Medicare review. Start with your questions if paperwork is incomplete.
- I'm turning 65 soon. Is Annual Enrollment for me?
- People new to Medicare usually use their birthday-based Initial Enrollment Period. Annual Enrollment addresses Medicare Advantage and Part D changes for eligible beneficiaries.
- Is Annual Enrollment the same as Medicare open enrollment?
- Yes. Medicare open enrollment is the everyday name for Medicare Annual Enrollment. It runs October 15 through December 7, and changes you make take effect January 1.
- Where can I meet you for a review in Greensboro?
- We can arrange a conversation at your home in Greensboro or Guilford County, a convenient public place, or by phone. You can bring a family member and your questions.
- Do you help people outside Greensboro?
- Yes. I meet with folks across the Piedmont Triad, including High Point, Winston-Salem, and Kernersville, plus Granville County towns like Oxford and Creedmoor. Phone reviews work the same wherever you are in North Carolina.
- Are Medicare Advantage plans the same in Guilford County as in Forsyth County?
- Not always. Plan availability and costs can differ by county, so a plan your friend in Winston-Salem has may not be offered at your Greensboro address. A review checks what is actually available where you live.
Medicare help in your community
Before you review coverage, read the 2027 changes and the Part D cap explanation, then work through the Annual Enrollment checklist. If your plan is not renewing, see the Triad checklist.
Compare your options in the Medicare Advantage vs Medigap guide and read the Part D prescription drug plans guide. If you live in Greensboro, start with the Greensboro Medicare hub.
Before you compare plans, get your doctors, prescriptions and pharmacy onto one page. The Annual Enrollment checklist lists ten things to review and where to find each one.
Christian BrinkleyNC Life & Health · Greensboro, NC
Request your free fall review
Call me or send a request for a free conversation about your Medicare questions. I'll arrange any required appointment paperwork before I discuss specific plans. No obligation to enroll.
Free consultation in person or by phone. It’s me who answers. Calls and appointments 9am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday, Eastern time.