Why Your Plan Deserves a Yearly Checkup
Every fall, Medicare opens a window for anyone already enrolled to switch their Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan for the coming year. Even a plan you're happy with today can look different next January — so this window is worth paying attention to, every single year.
Fall Open Enrollment
October 15 – December 7, Every Year
This window is for anyone already enrolled in Medicare who wants to change their Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. Any changes made during this period take effect on January 1 of the following year. If you take no action, your current plan generally continues automatically — but "automatic" doesn't mean "unchanged."
What Can Change
Four Things Worth Re-Checking
Premiums
Monthly plan premiums are reset every year and can go up, down, or disappear entirely — even for a plan you already have.
Formularies (drug lists)
The list of covered drugs, and which "tier" a drug falls into, can change — sometimes moving a medication you rely on to a more expensive tier.
Provider networks
Doctors, hospitals, and specialists can join or leave a plan's network from one year to the next, affecting whether your care stays in-network.
Extra benefits
Dental, vision, hearing, transportation, and other extras offered by Medicare Advantage plans are not guaranteed to stay the same — benefits can be added or reduced.
Worth Repeating
Even a Great Plan Can Change
Every year, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans across the country adjust their pricing, drug coverage, and networks for the year ahead. A plan that fit perfectly this year might raise a copay, drop a nearby pharmacy, or change how a regular medication is covered next year. Reviewing your plan each fall — even briefly — is the simplest way to catch a change before it affects your care or your budget.
A second window: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
From January 1 through March 31 each year, people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan get one more chance to make a change — switching to a different Advantage plan or moving back to Original Medicare. It's more limited than Fall Open Enrollment: it's only for current Advantage members, and only one switch is allowed. It doesn't apply to people who only have Original Medicare or a stand-alone Part D plan.