Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Review: Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026
Every fall, Medicare gives you a window to look at your coverage and decide whether it still fits. For 2026, the Annual Enrollment Period (also called Medicare Open Enrollment) runs from October 15 through December 7. Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.
We are an independent, family-run Medicare agency based on Long Island, NY, and we help people review their coverage across the 18 states where we are licensed, from New York and New Jersey to Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas. Here is what this season means for you and how we can help.
What you can change during the Annual Enrollment Period
The fall window applies to Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription drug plans. Between October 15 and December 7 you can:
Switch plans
Move from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, with or without drug coverage.
Change how you get Medicare
Go from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
Review drug coverage
Join, switch, or drop a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you have Original Medicare.
If you look everything over and you are happy, you do not have to do anything. Your coverage usually renews on its own.
The plan has to receive your enrollment request by December 7. Don't wait until the last week, when phone lines and appointment calendars fill up fast.
Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change each fall, generally by the end of September. It spells out what will be different next year. Look for:
- Premium: is your monthly cost going up or down?
- Deductibles and copays: what you pay at the doctor, the hospital, and the pharmacy.
- Drug list (formulary): are your medications still covered, and on the same tier?
- Networks: are your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacy still in network?
- Extra benefits: changes to dental, vision, hearing, or other extras.
Some people get a different kind of letter: a notice that their plan is leaving their area or ending next year. If that happens to you, don't panic. You will have a chance to choose new coverage, and we can help you sort out your options and deadlines.
Can't find your ANOC? Contact your plan and ask for a copy, or send it to us and we will go through it with you.
Why it pays to review every year
Plans can change their premiums, copays, drug lists, and networks every year. Your health and prescriptions change too. A plan that fit well last year may not fit as well now.
A quick yearly check helps you avoid surprises in January, like a prescription that now costs much more or a specialist who is no longer in network.
How Greenlight reviews your coverage
Our review is simple and personal. We sit down with you by phone, by video, or in person on Long Island, and we focus on three things:
1. Your prescriptions
We check each medication, its dose, and your pharmacy so you can see how next year's coverage compares.
2. Your doctors
We confirm your doctors and hospitals and where you get care, including if you split time between two states.
3. Your total costs
We look beyond the monthly premium to deductibles, copays, and your yearly out-of-pocket exposure.
Then we explain your choices in plain English. If staying put is the right call, we will tell you. If a change makes sense, we handle the paperwork with you. Our help comes at no cost to you.
What about Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans?
The fall Annual Enrollment Period is about Medicare Advantage and Part D. Medigap plans follow different rules.
In New York, state law requires insurers that sell Medigap to accept applications at any time of year. They can't turn you down or charge you more because of your health. That means New Yorkers with a Medigap plan can look at switching carriers or plans whenever it makes sense, not only in the fall. See our guide to Medicare Supplement plans in New York.
In most other states, once your initial Medigap enrollment window has passed, insurers can usually ask health questions before accepting you. If you live outside New York and are thinking about moving from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, talk with us first so you understand your state's rules.
After December 7: one more chance if you have Medicare Advantage
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get a second window from January 1 to March 31. During that time you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. You can make one change during that period.
What to have ready for your review
- Your Medicare card and your current plan card(s).
- Your Annual Notice of Change, or any letter saying your plan is ending.
- A list of your prescriptions with doses, and your preferred pharmacy.
- Names of your doctors, specialists, and hospitals.
- Any big changes coming up: a move, a new diagnosis, or time spent in another state.
New to Medicare? Start with our Turning 65 Medicare timeline or our plain-English Medicare explained page. You can also browse our Medicare guides, or read what our clients say.
Talk it through with a real person
Questions? Call, text, or pick a time that works for you. Jordan or Scott will walk you through it.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
It runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027, and your plan must receive your request by December 7.
Do I have to do anything if I like my plan?
No. If you review your plan's Annual Notice of Change and are happy, your coverage generally continues automatically. Reviewing is still a good idea because costs, drug lists, and networks can change each year.
What is an Annual Notice of Change?
It is a notice your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan sends each fall, generally by the end of September, explaining changes to premiums, copays, covered drugs, and networks for next year.
Can I change my Medicare Supplement plan during Open Enrollment?
The fall Open Enrollment period is for Medicare Advantage and Part D. In New York, Medigap insurers must accept applications year-round without health questions, so you can look at a change any time. In most other states, health questions may apply outside your initial Medigap window.
What if I miss the December 7 deadline?
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change between January 1 and March 31. Other changes generally require a Special Enrollment Period, such as after a move. Call us and we will check what applies to you.
Do you only help people on Long Island?
No. We are Long Island based and are licensed in 18 states, including New York, Florida, Texas, and South Carolina. We can review your coverage by phone or video wherever you live in those states.
Keep reading
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 6 organizations which offer 20 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
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