Key Things to Know:
The Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans will be October 15-December 7, 2026. During this period, Medicare Beneficiaries can enroll in or change their Medicare Advantage plan.
To help you decide if you should change your current Medicare Advantage Plan, your insurance company will send you an Annual Notice of Change form. You should receive this form by the end of September. This form will give you a comparison of your plan’s costs and benefits in 2026 vs. what they will be in 2027.
If you decide to switch your plan, your new plan will take effect on January 1, 2027.
After you review your Annual Notice of Change you may want to change your Medicare Advantage Plan: Some reasons are:
Your plan’s premium may have gone up.
Some of your copays may have gone up.
The plan’s annual deductible may increase.
The maximum you can pay for your drugs in 2026 is $2,100. That may go up in 2027.
One or more of your providers is will be of your plan’s network:
If your doctor(s) is going out of network, you will have higher costs in a PPO. An HMO plan won’t cover your costs, except in an emergency.
This could happen if your health has changed and you need to see Medical specialists who don’t take the plan.
You Need More Provider Coverage:
Should you switch from a Medicare HMO to a PPO?
If you switch from an HMO to a PPO you will have a larger choice of providers. Also, you won’t require referrals to see a specialist.
Also, if you travel or live part-time in another area, you can’t use your HMO for ordinary care. Another reason is you may need a larger choice of specialists than the HMO contracts with.
Should you switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medicare Supplement Plan. A Medicare Supplement plan will give you freedom to choose your doctors. Also, you won’t referrals from your Primary Care provider to see a Specialist.
Another Medicare plan may have more free benefits, such as a larger Dental allowance and coverage.
Another plan offers a higher Over-The-Counter Benefit. That means you can get more health and wellness products for free.
There are many factors to consider to help you decide if you should change your current Medicare Advantage Plan.
Finding the right plan for you starts with completing a Needs Analysis. Then I will research your needs vs. the available Medicare Advantage plans.
I will prepare a side-by side comparison to help you decide.
