✔ Backed by: Medicare.gov · National Council on Aging (NCOA). Each fact links to its source, and the full list is at the bottom of this post.
Medicare Open Enrollment, your yearly chance to change Medicare plans, runs from October 15 to December 7. Changes you make take effect January 1, and your plan must get your enrollment request by December 7 [1].
For many people, this season brings a stack of mail, a lot of TV ads, and a quiet worry: “Am I in the right plan?” That worry makes sense. Plans can change their costs and coverage each year. A plan that worked well for you this year may not be the best fit next year. The good news is that you do not have to figure it all out in one sitting. This step-by-step checklist can help you compare at your own pace, without feeling rushed.
During Open Enrollment, what you can do depends on the coverage you have now. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can join, drop, or switch plans, and add or drop drug coverage. If you have Original Medicare, you can join, drop, or switch a Medicare drug plan. You can also move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or the other way around [1]. If you have coverage through an employer or union, call your benefits administrator before you make any change [3].
Step 1: Read your plan’s change notice
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a drug plan, your plan sends a Plan Annual Notice of Change, often called the ANOC. It usually comes in September. It lists changes in coverage, costs, and service area that start in January [2]. If you did not get it, contact your plan [2].
This notice can look long and dull, but it is worth a slow read. Grab a pen and circle anything that touches your life. For example, imagine you take a daily heart medicine. If the notice shows that drug now costs more, or has moved to a different tier, that is a clue to look at other plans. A new premium, a bigger deductible, or a change in the service area are other things to flag.
Step 2: Make your lists
Before you look at any plan, write down what you actually need. Start with every prescription you take, including the dose and how often you take it. Next, write down your pharmacy, plus a backup pharmacy in case your favorite is not in a plan’s network. Then list your doctors, specialists, and any hospitals you want to keep. Finally, think about the year ahead. Do you expect a planned surgery, physical therapy, or a new specialist? Add that too.
These lists are your compass. Without them, it is easy to pick a plan because of one shiny feature, like a low premium, and miss that your main medicine is not covered. If a caregiver or family member helps you, give them a copy. Two sets of eyes catch more.
Step 3: Compare Medicare plans with the Plan Finder
Go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare to find plans in your area [3]. Enter your drugs and your pharmacy, so the cost estimates match your real life. Then, for each plan you are thinking about, check these four things [3]:
- Are all your drugs on the plan’s formulary, which is its list of covered drugs?
- Is your pharmacy in the network, including where you travel?
- What are the premium, the deductible, and the copays for generic drugs?
- How does the plan’s star rating compare with others near you?
Look at the whole cost picture, not just one number. A plan with a low monthly premium may still cost you more over the year if your drugs are expensive on that plan. Star ratings can help too. Medicare uses member surveys and other data to make them, and a 5-star rating is considered excellent [3].
If you are looking at Medicare Advantage plans, call your doctors’ offices as well. You can say: “I’m comparing Medicare plans for next year. Will my doctor be in this plan’s network in January?” Networks can change, so it is worth asking directly.
Tru-Tips: Narrow your choices to two or three plans, then make a simple side-by-side chart on one sheet of paper. Use the same rows for each plan: premium, deductible, your drug costs, your pharmacy, your doctors, and star rating. It turns a pile of numbers into a clear picture.
Step 4: Get free, unbiased help
You do not have to do this alone. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Counselors are trained staff or volunteers [4]. A SHIP counselor can explain your options, help you compare Medicare Advantage and drug plans, and help you spot possible scams [4]. They can also help you apply for programs that may lower your costs, like Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help [4]. Extra Help is a Medicare program that helps people with limited income and resources pay drug coverage costs such as premiums and deductibles [3].
SHIP may go by a different name in your state [4]. Find your local office at shiphelp.org or call 1-877-839-2675 [4]. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048 [3]. Families and caregivers can use SHIP too, so it is fine to call on behalf of a parent with their permission [4].
A quick word on pressure. If anyone calls you out of the blue and pushes you to switch today, it is okay to hang up. You can say: “I don’t make decisions over the phone. I’ll check with my SHIP counselor.” Your choice should be yours.
Step 5: Write down your choice
Once you decide, make a short note for your records. If you switch, save your confirmation number and the date. If you keep your plan, write down why, such as “All my drugs are still covered and my doctors stay in network.” Keep this note with your Medicare card information. Next fall, you will have a head start, and you will remember what mattered most to you.
Let’s talk about it
What part of comparing Medicare plans feels hardest to you? Have you found a tip, tool, or helper that made it easier? Share in the comments so others can learn from you.
One Tru Step: Today, write a list of every medicine you take, with the dose. It is the most useful thing you can bring to any plan comparison.
Sources and further reading
- Medicare.gov. Open Enrollment. medicare.gov
- Medicare.gov. Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). medicare.gov
- Medicare.gov. Choosing Medicare Drug Coverage (fact sheet, CMS Product No. 11163). medicare.gov
- National Council on Aging. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). ncoa.org
Sources checked October 15, 2026. General education; individual care and coverage questions require an appropriate professional.
Related Health Hubs
- Insurance and Medicare Health Hub
- Medication Copay Finder
- Healthcare Costs and Financial Assistance
- Medication Management and Safety
Join the conversation 💬
This is your space. Share a tip that helped you, ask the question you have been wondering about, or cheer on someone going through the same thing. Your comment shows up right away, and no account is needed.
Our house rules (they keep this a feel-good spot): Be kind. Stay on topic. Keep it free of religion, politics, and anything hurtful. Comments that break these rules are removed.
Protect your privacy: Use a first name or nickname, and skip full names, phone numbers, and personal health details.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.