By Christian BrinkleyLicensed NC Insurance Agent, NPN 22217190, NC Life & Health · Updated October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
Annual Enrollment is here. From October 15 to December 7, you can change your Medicare coverage for 2027. This is the one time each year when most people can switch Medicare Advantage plans, switch Part D drug plans, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Your plan can change every year. Premiums go up or down. Deductibles shift. Copays change. Drug formularies get updated. Doctor networks get revised. That is why you get an Annual Notice of Change letter every fall. Read it.
Here is what to check in your ANOC letter
Your premium. Is it going up? By how much?
Your deductible. For Part D, the deductible resets every January 1.
Your copays and coinsurance. Check the drugs you actually take, not just the ones on the first page.
Your drug formulary. Is your medication still covered? What tier is it on? Tier changes affect what you pay.
Your pharmacy network
Is your pharmacy still in network? Preferred pharmacies cost less.
Your doctor network. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, check that your doctors are still in network.
Your max out of pocket. This is the most you would pay in a year for covered services.
Your extra benefits. Dental, vision, hearing, gym membership, transportation. These can change too.
If your plan is leaving your area or ending, you get a Special Enrollment Period. You can also get a guaranteed issue right for certain Medigap plans. That is a rare second chance to get Medigap without medical underwriting.
What can you actually change during Annual Enrollment?
Here is the full list.
You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Maybe your current plan dropped your doctor, or another plan covers your drugs better, or the premium went up and a competitor is cheaper. AEP is when you make that move.
You can switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare. Some people try Advantage for a year and decide they want the flexibility of Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan. You can do that during AEP. Just know that Medigap may require medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue right.
You can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. If you have been on Original Medicare and want the extra benefits some Advantage plans offer, like dental or gym memberships, AEP is the window.
What can you not do during AEP?
You cannot switch Medigap plans freely. Medigap is not tied to Annual Enrollment. In most states, switching Medigap outside your initial open enrollment period means going through medical underwriting. The company can turn you down or charge more based on your health. AEP does not change that rule.
A common mistake is doing nothing. Your plan auto-renews if you take no action. That sounds easy, but it can cost you. If your premium jumped, if your drug moved to a higher tier, if your doctor left the network, you will not know until you need care. Reading the ANOC letter takes twenty minutes. It can save you real money.
To compare plans, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov
Enter your exact medications, dosages, and pharmacy. The tool shows your total yearly cost on each plan, not just the premium. A cheap premium with your drug off formulary can cost more than a higher premium plan that covers it.
Your state SHIP counselors help with this for free. In North Carolina, it is called SHIIP. They walk through the Plan Finder with you and answer questions.
Do not wait until December. The deadline is December 7. Changes take effect January 1.
If you need help understanding your options, call a local licensed agent. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.
This is general information only, not personal advice or a recommendation about any specific plan.
Questions people ask me about this
What can you actually change during annual enrollment?
Here is the full list. You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Maybe your current plan dropped your doctor, or another plan covers your drugs better, or the premium went up and a competitor is cheaper. AEP is when you make that move. You can switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
What can you not do during AEP?
You cannot switch Medigap plans freely. Medigap is not tied to Annual Enrollment. In most states, switching Medigap outside your initial open enrollment period means going through medical underwriting. The company can turn you down or charge more based on your health. AEP does not change that rule. A common mistake is doing nothing.
What should I know about medicare annual enrollment?
Your premium. Is it going up? By how much? Your deductible. For Part D, the deductible resets every January 1. Your copays and coinsurance. Check the drugs you actually take, not just the ones on the first page. Your drug formulary. Is your medication still covered? What tier is it on? Tier changes affect what you pay.
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