Medicare AEP Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before December 7

# Medicare AEP Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before December 7

Your 2026 Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7—here's what to review before you miss your chance to make changes.

Author: Lynsey Brennan, Licensed Medicare Advisor | Published May 31, 2026 Reading time: 6 min read

Quick Answer

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the one time each year when you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or change your Part D drug plan without a qualifying event. Missing December 7 means you're locked into your current coverage until next fall—so use this checklist to review what matters now, before the rush hits.

Table of Contents

• Check If Your Doctors Are Still In-Network
• Review Your Prescription Drug Costs for 2027
• Compare Your Current Plan's 2027 Changes
• Understand Your Out-of-Pocket Maximum
• Know What You Paid This Year (Really)
• Decide: Advantage or Supplement
• Don't Ignore Dental, Vision, and Hearing

Check If Your Doctors Are Still In-Network

Your plan can drop doctors or entire hospital systems mid-year. I see this every AEP in Florida—especially with smaller Advantage plans that renegotiate contracts with practices in Palm Beach, Broward, and Martin counties.

Call your primary care doctor and any specialists you see regularly. Ask if they'll be in-network with your current plan in 2027. Don't rely on last year's directory. If they're out, you have until December 7 to switch to a plan that covers them, or move to a Medicare Supplement (Plan G or Plan N) where you can see any doctor who accepts Medicare.

In Palm Beach County alone, we have over 280,000 Medicare beneficiaries. That's a lot of people competing for appointments with in-network doctors. If your cardiologist drops your plan, you don't want to find out in January.

Review Your Prescription Drug Costs for 2027

Part D formularies change every year. A drug that cost you $15 in 2026 might jump to $90 in 2027—or move to a higher tier that requires prior authorization.

Use Medicare's Plan Finder tool in October (when 2027 plans are posted) and enter every medication you take, with dosages. Compare what you'll actually pay across all available Part D plans in your area. Some Florida Medicare Advantage plans bundle Part D with $0 premiums, but watch the copays. A standalone Part D plan might cost $30/month but save you $600 over the year if you take expensive meds.

Compare Your Current Plan's 2027 Changes

Your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) every September. Read it. Don't assume your $0 premium Advantage plan stays $0, or that your $3,000 out-of-pocket max stays the same.

I reviewed a client's ANOC last year and found her specialist copay jumped from $40 to $75. Over 12 visits, that's $420 more. She switched plans during AEP and kept the $40 copay. These notices are dense, but they tell you exactly what's changing: premiums, copays, deductibles, covered benefits.

Understand Your Out-of-Pocket Maximum

Medicare Advantage plans cap how much you pay per year—but Original Medicare does not (unless you add a Supplement). In 2026, some Florida Advantage plans had out-of-pocket maximums around $4,900 to $8,300. For 2027, those numbers can shift.

If you had a hospital stay or major procedure this year and hit your max, check whether next year's plan raises it. If you're healthy and never hit it, a plan with a higher max and lower premiums might make sense. Run the math based on your actual health, not best-case scenarios.

Know What You Paid This Year (Really)

Pull your 2026 Medicare Summary Notices or Explanation of Benefits. Add up what you spent: premiums, copays, prescriptions, dental. Most people guess. When I sit down with clients for a Medicare plan review in Florida, they're often surprised—sometimes they paid $2,800 when they thought it was $1,200.

If you're on a Medicare Supplement, add your Part B premium ($174.70/month in 2026), Supplement premium (Plan G runs about $145 to $175/month in Palm Beach County depending on age and carrier), and Part D (average $30 to $50/month). That's roughly $4,200 to $5,400 per year before you see a doctor. If you rarely go, an Advantage plan might cut that in half. If you see specialists monthly, the Supplement might be cheaper overall.

Decide: Advantage or Supplement

This is the big one. During AEP, you can move from Advantage to Original Medicare plus a Supplement—but only if you pass underwriting (health questions) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Florida has no additional protections here.

Medicare Advantage often means $0 or low premiums, but you're limited to a network and pay copays for most services. Medicare Supplements (especially Plan G) let you see any doctor, no referrals, no networks—but you pay $145+ per month for that freedom, plus a separate Part D plan.

If you're moving from Advantage to a Supplement outside your initial enrollment window, insurers can decline you or charge more based on health. If you want to make that switch, do it during AEP while you can still change your Advantage plan as a fallback.

Don't Ignore Dental, Vision, and Hearing

Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental, vision, or hearing aids. Many Medicare Advantage plans in Florida do—some with $0 copays for exams, $1,500 dental allowances, or hearing aids included.

If you're on a Supplement, you'll pay out-of-pocket or buy separate coverage. Dental work isn't cheap. A crown in South Florida runs $1,200 to $1,800. If your Advantage plan covers $1,000 of that and you're healthy enough to stay in-network, it might be worth keeping even if premiums went up $20.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare during AEP? A: Yes—AEP is the one time all year you can move from Advantage to Original Medicare without a qualifying event. If you want to add a Supplement, you'll need to apply and answer health questions unless you're in a guaranteed issue situation.

Q: What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline? A: You're stuck with your current plan until the next AEP, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (like moving, losing other coverage, or Medicaid eligibility). There's also Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 to March 31), but that only lets you switch Advantage plans or drop Advantage for Original Medicare—you can't join Advantage during that window.

Q: Do I need to contact my current plan to cancel if I'm switching? A: No. When you enroll in a new plan during AEP, it automatically cancels your old one effective January 1, 2027. Don't cancel early or you'll have a gap in