Medicare AEP Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before December 7

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period closes December 7. Here's a 10-step checklist to review your 2026 Medicare plan before the deadline.

Author: Lynsey Brennan, Licensed Medicare Advisor | Published September 10, 2026 Reading time: 7 min read

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Quick Answer

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year. During this window, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans, move between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, or change your Part D drug plan — with coverage starting January 1, 2027. Missing the deadline means waiting another full year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

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Key Takeaways

• AEP runs October 15 - December 7; changes take effect January 1, 2027
• Florida Medicare Advantage enrollment sits at 56.1%, per CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment (2024) — meaning most Florida seniors are in an MA plan that can change year to year
• The 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs is $2,100 (CMS CY 2026 Part D benefit parameters) — check whether your plan reaches that threshold
• Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) work very differently — know which structure fits your health before AEP starts
• A free Medicare review with a licensed advisor costs you nothing and can surface options you may not find on your own

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Table of Contents

1. Pull Out Your Current Plan's Annual Notice of Change 2. Write Down Every Drug You Take 3. List the Doctors and Facilities You Use 4. Know the 2026 Cost Benchmarks 5. Understand Florida-Specific Plan Availability 6. Compare Medicare Advantage vs. Supplement — Honestly 7. Use a Plan Comparison Tool or Talk to an Advisor 8. Check Your Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefits 9. Confirm the Enrollment Deadline and How to Enroll 10. Don't Wait Until November

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1. Pull Out Your Annual Notice of Change

Every year before October 15, your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is required to mail you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). This document lists every change to your plan for the coming year — premiums, copays, drug formulary updates, and network changes.

Don't toss it. Read it. Plans can and do change benefits, remove drugs from their formulary, or adjust specialist copays between years. If you haven't received your ANOC by early October, call your plan directly.

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2. Write Down Every Drug You Take

Before you compare any plans, write a complete list of your medications — drug name, dose, and how often you take them. Then check whether each drug appears on the formulary (the covered drug list) of any plan you're considering.

Under Medicare Part D in 2026, covered insulin is capped at $35/month (per CMS). But other drugs vary widely in tier placement and cost-sharing. A plan with a low monthly premium might charge more per prescription than a plan with a slightly higher premium. The only way to know is to run your specific drug list against each plan's formulary. Our Part D drug coverage guide explains how formulary tiers work.

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3. List the Doctors and Facilities You Use

If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan — or considering one — network matters. Most HMO-style MA plans require you to use in-network providers for non-emergency care. PPO plans offer more flexibility, but out-of-network costs are typically higher.

Before AEP, write down the names of every doctor, specialist, hospital, and outpatient facility you've seen in the past year. Then verify each one is in-network for any plan you're evaluating. Providers can leave networks between plan years, so even your current plan is worth double-checking.

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4. Know the 2026 Cost Benchmarks

Going into AEP with a clear picture of baseline 2026 Medicare costs helps you spot whether a plan's cost-sharing is better or worse than standard.

Here's what CMS has set for 2026:

• Part B premium: $202.90/month (CMS, November 2025)
• Part B deductible: $283/year (CMS, November 2025)
• Medicare Advantage in-network out-of-pocket maximum cap: $9,350 (CMS, 2025) — individual plans may set lower limits
• Part D annual out-of-pocket threshold: $2,100 for covered Part D drugs (CMS CY 2026 Part D benefit parameters)

See the full breakdown at our 2026 Medicare costs page.

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5. Understand Florida-Specific Plan Availability

Florida has one of the most competitive Medicare markets in the country. With 56.1% of Florida Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans (CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, 2024), there's no shortage of plan options in most counties — which is both an opportunity and a source of confusion.

In South Florida counties like Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade, you'll typically find dozens of MA plan options from carriers like Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Florida Blue. Plan availability varies significantly by zip code, so what's available in Naples may differ from what's offered in Orlando. Check Florida Medicare data for county-level enrollment information.

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6. Compare Medicare Advantage vs. Supplement — Honestly

This is the single most important question to think through during AEP: are you in the right type of coverage?

Medicare Advantage plans often have $0 monthly premiums and include extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing), but they use networks and require prior authorizations for some services. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans work alongside Original Medicare and typically cover most or all of your out-of-pocket costs, but they carry a separate monthly premium and don't include Part D drug coverage.

Neither is automatically better. It depends on your health, your budget, how often you travel, and which doctors you see. Read the full Medicare Advantage vs. Supplement comparison, or check our individual guides: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).

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7. Use a Plan Comparison Tool or Talk to an Advisor

Medicare.gov's Plan Finder tool lets you enter your drugs and doctors to compare plans side by side. It's a good starting point. Our plan comparison tool offers a similar side-by-side view focused on Florida Medicare plans 2026.

That said, the tools only show you what you put in. A licensed Medicare advisor can catch things a tool won't — like a plan's history of prior authorization denials, or the fact that a low-premium plan has unusually high specialist copays. There's no charge to work with an independent licensed advisor.

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8. Check Your Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefits

Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental, vision, or hearing. Many Medicare Advantage plans include these benefits, but the scope varies widely — some plans cover one or two cleanings a year and basic eye exams; others include an annual allowance for glasses or hearing aids.

Review exactly what your current plan covers and compare it to alternatives. If you've had significant dental or hearing costs in 2026, that information is relevant when evaluating next year's plan.

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9. Confirm the Enrollment Deadline and How to Enroll

The AEP deadline is December 7. Changes take effect January 1, 2027. You can enroll or switch plans by:

• Calling the plan directly
• Using Medicare.gov's online enrollment
• Calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048)
• Working through a licensed Medicare advisor who submits the enrollment on your behalf

See Medicare enrollment periods for a full breakdown of when you can make changes and what triggers a Special Enrollment Period.

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10. Don't Wait Until November

Every year, the final two weeks of AEP get congested. Advisors are harder to reach, plan documents take longer to process, and there's less time to fix a mistake if you accidentally select the wrong plan.

If you start this checklist now — in September and October — you'll have time to ask questions, run your drug list, verify your doctors, and make a confident decision before the rush.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare during AEP? A: Yes. During AEP (October 15 - December 7), you can disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare, with or without adding a standalone Part D drug plan. Keep in mind that if you want to add a Medigap policy at that point, you may need to pass medical underwriting in most states, including Florida, unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right.

Q: What happens if I miss the December 7 AEP deadline? A: You generally can't make Medicare plan changes until the next AEP unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). SEPs are triggered by specific events like moving, losing employer coverage, or a plan losing its Medicare contract. See Medicare enrollment periods for the full list of qualifying events.

Q: Do I need to do anything during AEP if I'm happy with my current plan? A: Not necessarily — if you do nothing, your current plan typically auto-renews. But it's still worth reviewing your ANOC document, because your plan's benefits, premiums, or drug formulary may have changed for 2027. A plan that worked well in 2026 may not be the best fit next year.

Q: Is a free Medicare review actually free? A: Yes. Independent licensed Medicare advisors are compensated by insurance carriers when you enroll in a plan — there's no charge to you for the review, comparison, or enrollment assistance. You can schedule a free Medicare review with our team at no cost.

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The Bottom Line

AEP is your annual chance to make sure your Medicare coverage still fits your life, your doctors, and your prescriptions. With the December 7 deadline approaching, now is the time to pull out that Annual Notice of Change, run your drug list, and ask honest questions about whether your current plan is still the right one. If you'd like a second set of eyes, I'm happy to help. Schedule a free Medicare review — no pressure, no sales pitch, just a straight conversation about your options.

Lynsey Brennan, Licensed Medicare Advisor 📞 561-247-0678 | FL License #G007269 | HealthPlan Connect

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Sources

• CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, 2024 — Florida Medicare Advantage enrollment rate (56.1%) and national Medicare Advantage enrollment rate (~54%)
• CMS, November 2025 — 2026 Part B premium ($202.90/month) and Part B deductible ($283)
• CMS CY 2026 Part D Benefit Parameters — Part D annual out-of-pocket threshold ($2,100); covered insulin cap ($35/month)
• CMS, 2025 — 2026 Medicare Advantage in-network out-of-pocket maximum cap ($9,350)
• Medicare.gov — Plan Finder tool and Annual Enrollment Period rules
• CMS Medicare AEP guidelines — enrollment window (October 15 - December 7) and effective date rules

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This article is for educational purposes and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal Medicare program or any government agency. HealthPlan Connect is a private, licensed Medicare advisory service. FL License #G007269.