Review Your Plan During Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare's annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7. If you're covered under Medicare, open enrollment provides an opportunity to review your current healthcare coverage - preferably with a professional - and make changes, if warranted.

During open enrollment, some things you can do include:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan with lower premiums and copays or one with better coverage for your health concerns.


• Change from a Medicare Advantage plan to original Medicare, or vice versa. Keep in mind, though, that Advantage plans can offer drug, dental, and vision coverage that isn’t included in original Medicare or Medigap plans. Advantage plans may also offer extra benefits, such as health and wellness services, hearing coverage, fitness programs, transportation to medical appointments, and custom plans for certain conditions.


• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medigap plan. Medigap plans generally cover you throughout the U.S. and abroad and may be appropriate if you travel frequently within or outside the country. However, if you didn’t enroll in a Medigap plan when you initially signed up for Medicare, any pre-existing condition may disqualify you now. Make sure your application is accepted by the insurer before you switch plans.


• Medicare Part D provides coverage for prescription drugs. If you aren’t covered under a Medicare Advantage plan, you can add Part D coverage during open enrollment. You can also drop Part D coverage if you no longer need it.