Medicare AEP is coming. Here’s your five-point checklist.

Published July 1, 2026 · By Tom Wertish, Options.Health

If you’re already on Medicare, the Annual Enrollment Period is the one window every year built specifically for you — not for people newly turning 65. It runs October 15 through December 7, with any changes taking effect January 1. Here’s the short list worth actually checking, rather than letting your plan quietly renew.

The window: October 15 – December 7

During AEP, anyone on Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. This is the one Medicare window that’s truly annual and open to everyone already enrolled — no qualifying event required, no restrictions based on health.

What actually changes every year

Carriers are allowed to adjust the details of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans annually, and most do. The plan you picked two years ago may look meaningfully different by this fall:

• Drug formularies — a prescription covered last year can move to a higher tier, or drop off the formulary entirely.
• Provider networks — a doctor or specialist in-network last year isn’t guaranteed to still be in-network.
• Premiums and out-of-pocket maximums — these reset annually and can move in either direction.
• Star ratings — CMS re-scores every plan yearly; a drop in star rating can also mean a drop in certain supplemental benefits.

Five things worth checking before you let it auto-renew

1. Open the Annual Notice of Change your plan mailed you — most people never do, and it lists exactly what’s different for next year.
2. Confirm your regular doctors and any specialists are still in-network for next year’s plan.
3. Check your prescription list against next year’s formulary and tier placement.
4. Compare next year’s premium and out-of-pocket maximum against this year’s.
5. Look up next year’s star rating — a meaningful drop is worth a second look at alternatives.