Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec 7: 5 Things to Review
Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7. Review your notice of change, drugs, doctors, total cost, and Medigap before you switch.
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Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7, and any change you make in this window takes effect January 1. Your costs, benefits, and providers can change each year, even if you keep the same plan name. This guide walks through five things to review before the deadline, so you compare real numbers instead of staying with a plan out of habit.
Summary
Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Your plan must receive your enrollment form by December 7, and new coverage starts January 1. Start with the Annual Notice of Change your plan sends in the fall, then check your drugs, your doctors and pharmacy, your total yearly cost, and the extra benefits and Medigap question. Medicare.gov/plan-compare lets you compare plans side by side. The sections below explain each of the five checks.
The Two Ways to Get Medicare
| Option | What it covers | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare | Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical); add a separate Part D drug plan | Drug plan costs, and whether you have or want Medigap |
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Part A, Part B, and usually Part D, from a private plan, often with extra benefits | Doctor and pharmacy networks, drug list, total yearly cost |
The table shows the fork in the road. Original Medicare plus a drug plan pairs with Medigap. A Medicare Advantage plan bundles the parts together and often adds extra benefits, but it runs on a plan network. Most of the five checks below apply to both, and the network check matters most for Advantage plans.
1. Read Your Annual Notice of Change
Your current plan sends an Annual Notice of Change, usually called the ANOC, each fall. It explains how your costs and benefits will change for the next year. Read it before you compare anything else, because the plan you had this year is not automatically the same plan next year.
If the ANOC shows a drug moving to a different tier or a copay rising, that change alone can be worth a closer look at other plans. Keep the letter next to you while you use the Plan Compare tool, so you can match its figures against other plans.
2. Check Your Prescription Drugs
Drug coverage is where many people find the biggest surprise. Medicare.gov/plan-compare shows costs for your prescriptions at your preferred pharmacies. Enter every prescription you take, then compare the estimates across plans.
A plan with a low premium can still cost more over the year if your drugs are covered at a higher cost. For each drug, check whether the plan covers it and what you would pay. If you take a drug every month, this check can matter more than the premium.
3. Check Your Doctors and Pharmacy
A plan only helps if your doctors and your pharmacy work with it. The Plan Compare tool lets you confirm whether your doctors are in a plan's network. Do the same for your pharmacy, because costs can differ by pharmacy.
If you are considering a Medicare Advantage plan, confirm that your main doctor and your usual hospital are in the network before you enroll. Out-of-network care can cost far more, so see each plan's materials for its rules.
4. Add Up Your Total Yearly Cost
Compare total yearly cost, not only the monthly premium. A simple way to do it is to add the premium over 12 months, then add the deductible and the copays for the drugs and visits you expect.
As an illustration only, a plan with a $40 monthly premium adds up to $480 over 12 months before deductibles and copays. That figure is an assumption for the math, not a real plan cost. Add the plan's deductible and your expected copays, then compare that total with your current plan's total.
Plan Compare also gives estimates of your total out-of-pocket costs, which is the number to compare. A low premium with a high deductible and high drug copays can cost more than a higher premium with lower cost sharing.
5. Weigh Extra Benefits Against the Medigap Question
Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits that Original Medicare does not, so check the limits and copays for any benefit you plan to use rather than relying on the headline.
On the other side, if you have a Medigap policy and join a Medicare Advantage plan, you might decide to drop Medigap. Medicare warns that you may not be able to get the same Medigap policy back later, depending on your state's rules and your situation. Think through that trade before you switch, because it can be hard to reverse.
Choosing Order
- Read your Annual Notice of Change and note every cost or benefit that changes for next year.
- Enter your drugs and your preferred pharmacies into Medicare.gov/plan-compare, then confirm that your doctors are in the network for the plans that look best.
- Enroll so that the plan receives your form by December 7. If you are happy with your current coverage after the review, see the Medicare guide for what happens if you make no change.
Before You Switch
- Confirm the enrollment deadline with the plan itself. A health or drug plan must receive your enrollment form by December 7.
- Get free help if the choice feels close. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, including weekends. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. You can also find your State Health Insurance Assistance Program at shiphelp.org.
- If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan, there is a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, when you can switch to a different Advantage plan or move to Original Medicare and add a separate drug plan. That window does not replace the December 7 deadline for the choices you make this fall.
- Keep your Annual Notice of Change and any plan letters in one place, so you can compare figures later.
This article is for general information, not financial advice.