October 15 – December 7, 2026 · Piedmont Triad
Medicare Annual Enrollment 2026: your Triad review checklist
Every fall I sit down with folks across the Triad to review their plans — and every year, a few people are surprised by what changed. Here's the checklist I walk through with them, so you can do the same.
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- Free consultation. No obligation.
Every fall, from October 15 through December 7, Medicare holds its Annual Enrollment Period. If you live in Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, or anywhere in the Piedmont Triad and you're on Medicare, this is your once-a-year window to change your coverage for the coming year. Changes you make during this window take effect January 1.
I'm Christian Brinkley, a licensed Medicare agent here in Greensboro. If you want the full picture on the fall window first, read the annual enrollment guide, or book a free fall review with me.
What you can actually change
During October 15 – December 7, you can:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
- Join a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, switch Part D plans, or drop your drug coverage
One honest caveat: if you move from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare and want a Medigap supplement, you may have to pass medical underwriting outside your one-time Medigap open enrollment window. It's not automatic. If that situation applies to you, talk it through with someone licensed before you make the move — I'd rather you hear that from me now than discover it in January.
The 5-step fall review checklist
- 1
Read your Annual Notice of Change — really read it
Every September, your plan mails you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It lists exactly what's different for next year: premiums, deductibles, copays, drug coverage, network changes. This is the single most important document of the fall. Most people file it unopened. Don't.
- 2
Check your prescriptions
Drug coverage changes more than anything else, year to year. A medication that's affordable this year can move to a higher cost tier next year — or come off the plan's drug list entirely. Pull out your current medication list and check each one against your plan's 2027 formulary. This step alone is the reason most of my fall reviews happen.
- 3
Check your doctors
"My doctor takes Medicare" and "my doctor is in my plan's network" are two different statements. Every fall, some plans adjust their networks. Confirm your primary care doctor, your specialists, and your preferred hospital are still in-network for your specific plan in 2027 — not just "a Medicare plan," your plan.
- 4
Add up your total costs — not just the premium
A low monthly premium gets the attention, but it's only one line of the bill. Add the premium, the deductible, and what you'd realistically pay in copays over a year. Sometimes the plan with the slightly higher premium costs you less overall. The math is worth doing once a year.
- 5
Don't forget Part D
If you have a standalone Part D drug plan, it needs its own review. Part D plans change premiums and formularies aggressively from year to year — the plan that was cheapest for you this year often isn't next year.
Step 3 deserves its own deep dive — here's exactly how to check whether your doctors are in a plan's network. And if you want to see the full cost picture before you decide, here's what Medicare costs.
What happens after December 7
The window closes on December 7, and that's firm. Changes take effect January 1. After the 7th, your options to change coverage are limited for the rest of the year. That's not a sales tactic — it's just the calendar. If you want to review your coverage, the fall is the time.
Free help in the Triad
You don't have to do this review alone, and you don't have to do it with a call center. I do free fall reviews — in person around Greensboro or by phone — for folks across the Triad. Bring your plan letter and your medication list; we'll go through the checklist together in about 30–45 minutes. No fee, no obligation, no pressure.
Book a time or call or text me at (336) 365-7422, Monday–Saturday 8:00–7:00. You'll reach me, not a call center.
Common questions
- When is Medicare Annual Enrollment 2026?
- October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
- Do I have to switch plans during Annual Enrollment?
- No — you're never required to change. But reviewing is still worth it, because your plan's costs, drug list, and network can all change even if you do nothing.
- What's the difference between Annual Enrollment and Open Enrollment?
- For Medicare, "Annual Enrollment Period" (Oct 15 – Dec 7) is the fall window to change plans. There's also a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31) for people already in Advantage plans. They're different windows with different rules — don't mix them up.
- I'm happy with my plan. Should I still review it?
- Yes — that's exactly when a review matters most. Plans change their drug lists and networks every year. A 20-minute check now beats an unpleasant surprise at the pharmacy in January.
- Can a local agent actually help with this, or do I have to call Medicare?
- A licensed local agent can walk you through your options and help you enroll. I do this for folks across the Triad every fall. You can also compare plans yourself at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Medicare help in your community
Walk through the checklist with me
Bring your plan letter and your medication list. We'll go through all five checks together — free, no obligation, about 30–45 minutes.
Free consultation in person or by phone. Calls and appointments 8am to 7pm, Monday through Saturday, Eastern time.