Medicare Annual Enrollment Period

What the Annual Enrollment Period does not cover

Buying a Medigap policy without underwriting

Medicare Supplement policies are not part of this window. Whether you can buy one, and what you pay, depends on your Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue right.

Enrolling in Part B for the first time

If you missed Part B when first eligible, the General Enrollment Period between 1 January and 31 March is generally the route, unless a Special Enrollment Period applies to you.

Unlimited changes after 7 December

Once the window closes, your choice generally stands for the year unless you qualify for another enrollment period.

Why it is worth reviewing even if you are happy

Plans are approved year by year, and the plan you have in December may not be the same plan in January. Formularies change, provider networks change, and costs such as copays and deductibles can change with them.

Your plan is required to send you an Annual Notice of Change before the window opens, usually by the end of September. It sets out what is changing for the coming year, and it is the document worth reading before you decide to stay put.

Your own circumstances change too. A new prescription or a new provider can make a plan that suited you last year a poor fit this year.

What to check before you decide

Your prescriptions

Confirm each one is still on the plan’s formulary and check which tier it sits in for the coming year.

Your providers

Check that the doctors and facilities you use are still in the plan’s network for next year.

Your pharmacy

Preferred and standard pharmacies can change, and the same prescription can cost a different amount at each.

Your total costs

Look at premiums, deductibles, copays, and the annual out of pocket maximum together rather than the premium alone.