Your Free 2026 AEP Checklist — What to Check Before Dec. 7
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7. It's the one guaranteed window every year where you can change your coverage - no qualifying event required. As your independent broker in Greenfield, I'll personally review your plan for free and tell you honestly whether you should switch or stay put. It costs you nothing, and it takes one 15-minute call.
During AEP, you can: switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (or back), join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan, or change your Medicare Supplement coverage, subject to underwriting. Whatever you choose takes effect January 1.
If you miss the window, you're generally locked into your current plan for the year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Most people only get this one chance annually, which is why waiting until the last week of AEP is the most common - and most costly - mistake.
Want this in writing? Grab the free printable version below - the same 8-point checklist I walk clients through in a plan review, ready to check off on your own.
Serving Hancock County and the surrounding area - Madison, Henry, Shelby, and Marion County - with the same free, no-obligation plan review
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does AEP start and end?
October 15 through December 7 every year. Changes you make during this window take effect January 1 of the following year.
Is AEP the same as Open Enrollment?
People use the terms interchangeably, but technically AEP is the fall window (Oct 15-Dec 7) for all Medicare beneficiaries. There's a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1-Mar 31) that only applies if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan and want to make one additional change.
Do I have to do anything if I'm happy with my current plan?
Not necessarily, but it's worth a review anyway. Plans change their costs, drug formularies, and provider networks every year, even if you don't touch anything. What worked for you last year may not be the best fit for next year.
What should I bring to an AEP appointment?
Your current Medicare card, a list of your prescriptions and dosages, and the names of the doctors you want to keep seeing.
Do I really need a broker, and what does it cost me?
Working with an independent broker costs you nothing. Carriers pay the broker, not the client, and you get someone who compares plans across carriers instead of pushing one company's product.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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