The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period takes place every year from October 15 through December 7.

During this period, eligible Medicare beneficiaries can make certain changes to their Medicare health and prescription drug coverage.

For the 2026 enrollment period, changes generally become effective January 1, 2027.

Depending on your current coverage, you may be able to:

• Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
• Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Join, switch, or drop a Medicare prescription drug plan

It’s important to understand that this annual period is different from the Initial Enrollment Period for people first becoming eligible for Medicare.

It is also different from the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which generally runs from January 1 through March 31 for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

Knowing which enrollment period applies to your circumstances helps prevent confusion and missed deadlines.

1. Review Your Current Medicare Coverage

Before comparing new plans, begin by understanding what you already have.

Look at your current coverage and determine what worked well during the past year.

Did your plan provide access to the doctors you wanted? Were your medications affordable? Did you encounter unexpected medical expenses? Were there benefits you expected to use but didn’t?

Your answers can help identify whether your current coverage continues to meet your needs.

Read Your Annual Notice of Change

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, review the Annual Notice of Change, commonly called the ANOC.

This document explains important changes to your plan for the upcoming year.

Changes may involve premiums, deductibles, co payments, covered services, prescription drug coverage, or other plan features.

Even if you plan to keep the same coverage, reviewing these changes is essential.

A plan that worked well this year may have different costs or benefits next year.

2. Compare Total Medicare Plan Costs

One of the biggest mistakes people can make during a Medicare plan review is comparing plans based only on monthly premiums.

A lower premium doesn’t automatically mean lower overall health care expenses.

Different plans may have different deductibles, co payments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket limits.

When comparing Medicare coverage options, evaluate:

• Monthly plan premiums
• Applicable Medicare Part B premiums
• Annual deductibles
• Doctor visit co payments
• Specialist costs
• Hospital expenses
• Prescription drug costs
• Out-of-pocket maximums, where applicable

Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage also structure costs differently.

For example, Medicare Advantage plans have annual limits on covered Part A and Part B out-of-pocket spending, while Original Medicare generally does not have an annual out-of-pocket limit unless supplemental coverage provides additional protection.

Understanding the complete financial picture can help you avoid choosing coverage based on one attractive number.

3. Check Your Prescription Drug Coverage

Prescription drug coverage deserves special attention during Medicare open enrollment.

Medications can represent a significant ongoing expense, particularly for people managing chronic conditions.

Medicare prescription drug plans may change their formularies, which are lists of covered medications, along with associated cost-sharing requirements.

A medication covered favorably this year may have different coverage conditions next year.

What Should You Review?

Start with a complete list of your current medications.

Include the drug name, dosage, frequency, and preferred pharmacy.

Then review:

• Whether each medication is covered
• Your expected co payment or coinsurance
• Any applicable deductible
• Prior authorization requirements
• Step therapy or quantity limits
• Preferred pharmacy options
• Estimated annual prescription expenses

Also review the current rules affecting Medicare Part D spending rather than relying on last year’s figures.

Prescription costs and plan designs can change, making an annual comparison especially valuable.

4. Confirm Your Doctors and Hospitals

Having health insurance doesn’t always mean every doctor or medical facility will be available under the same terms.

Provider networks can be particularly important for Medicare Advantage plans.

If you regularly visit a primary care physician, specialist, hospital, or clinic, confirm whether those providers participate in any plan you’re considering.

This matters for Minnesota residents who receive care through particular regional health systems or travel between communities for specialized services.

Consider Your Current and Future Needs

Think about the care you may need during the coming year.

Are you planning surgery? Do you regularly see specialists? Are you receiving treatment for a chronic condition?

If you’re comparing Medicare Advantage plans, review provider networks, referral requirements, and prior authorization rules.

With Original Medicare, you can generally use doctors and hospitals nationwide that accept Medicare, although providers may differ in whether they accept assignment.

Always confirm coverage and participation directly with the plan and provider before making a decision.

5. Understand Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

One of the most important Medicare planning decisions is determining how you want to receive your Medicare benefits.

Original Medicare includes Part A, which generally covers inpatient hospital care, and Part B, which covers certain outpatient medical services.

People with Original Medicare may also purchase separate Part D prescription coverage and, when eligible, Medicare Supplement Insurance, commonly called Medigap.

Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, is an alternative way to receive Medicare benefits through Medicare-approved private insurance plans.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage and may offer additional benefits.

However, plan networks, cost-sharing, service rules, and available benefits vary.

What About Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Medigap policies help pay certain out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare.

However, switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare does not automatically guarantee that you can purchase any Medigap policy you want.

Depending on your circumstances and applicable protections, insurers may use medical underwriting outside certain guaranteed-issue periods.

This makes reviewing Medigap eligibility particularly important before leaving Medicare Advantage.

Understanding these differences can help you evaluate coverage based on your preferences rather than assuming one approach is best for everyone.

6. Evaluate Additional Benefits Carefully

Some Medicare Advantage plans advertise additional benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, fitness, or other services.

These benefits may be appealing, especially when they address services that Original Medicare doesn’t routinely cover.

However, it’s important to understand the details.

A plan advertising dental coverage, for example, may have specific limitations, provider requirements, or annual benefit allowances.

The same principle applies to hearing and vision benefits.

Instead of focusing only on whether a benefit is included, ask how it actually works.

Consider whether you would use the benefit, whether your preferred providers participate, and what costs or restrictions apply.

Additional benefits can be valuable, but they should be considered alongside medical coverage, prescription expenses, and overall plan costs.

7. Consider Your Health and Financial Changes

Your Medicare needs may change even when your insurance plan doesn’t.

A new diagnosis, different medications, changes in mobility, or increased specialist visits can affect which coverage features matter most.

Your financial circumstances may also evolve.

Retirement income, household expenses, savings, and other insurance arrangements can influence how you evaluate health care costs.

For individuals focused on Minnesota retirement planning, Medicare decisions should be considered within a broader financial picture.

Health care expenses can affect retirement budgets, income planning, emergency savings, and long-term financial goals.

Innovative Legacy Solutions includes Medicare, health insurance, wealth preservation, tax diversification planning, and retirement-related strategies among its broader areas of focus.

Considering these subjects together can help people understand how health insurance choices fit into their overall financial circumstances.

Medicare Enrollment Minnesota: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Medicare enrollment decisions can become more complicated when people rely on assumptions or wait until the final days of open enrollment.

Common mistakes include choosing a plan based only on premiums, failing to check prescriptions, overlooking provider networks, and assuming that coverage will remain identical next year.

Another mistake is assuming that every advertised benefit will be available without restrictions.

Be cautious about unsolicited calls, misleading advertisements, or anyone requesting sensitive Medicare information unexpectedly.

Official Medicare information and plan comparison resources can help you independently verify important details.

Your Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist

Before making a decision, review the following:

• Your current coverage and Annual Notice of Change
• Monthly premiums and expected annual expenses
• Prescription drug coverage and pharmacy costs
• Doctor and hospital participation
• Deductibles, co payments, and coinsurance
• Additional benefits and limitations
• Changes to your health care needs
• Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare preferences
• Medigap eligibility, if considering a switch
• The December 7 enrollment deadline

If your current coverage still meets your needs, you may decide not to change plans.

However, reviewing your options remains worthwhile because plan costs and benefits can change annually.

Where Minnesota Residents Can Find Medicare Information

Minnesota residents have access to resources that can help them understand Medicare options.

Medicare’s official website provides plan comparisons, coverage explanations, and enrollment information.

Minnesota Aging Pathways, formerly the Senior LinkAge Line, also offers free statewide assistance with Medicare questions and health insurance counseling.

These resources can be particularly useful when comparing complex options or understanding how different enrollment rules apply.

The goal of a Medicare plan review isn’t necessarily to find the plan with the most benefits or the lowest advertised premium.

It’s to understand which available coverage best aligns with your individual health care needs, financial circumstances, and preferences.

Final Thoughts: Make Medicare Open Enrollment Count

Medicare open enrollment is more than an annual administrative deadline.

It’s an opportunity to make sure your health insurance continues to support your needs as your life and health circumstances change.

Reviewing plan costs, prescription coverage, doctors, hospitals, additional benefits, and the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage can help you make a more informed decision.

For Minnesota residents, thoughtful Medicare planning also means considering how health care expenses fit into retirement income and long-term financial goals.

You don’t necessarily need to change coverage every year.

But understanding your current plan, recognizing what’s changing, and comparing available options can help you approach the next year with greater confidence.

Contact Us

Innovative Legacy Solutions provides individualized solutions that include Medicare, health and ancillary insurance, wealth preservation, estate planning, and tax diversification planning, along with retirement and legacy-related strategies.

Innovative Legacy Solutions
2401 Goldfinch Lane
Buffalo, MN 55313

Office: (763) 639-3774
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM CST