Dates to know for fall 2026
Here's how to walk into AEP without getting steamrolled.
Approaching AEP — or already in it? Here's the order I'd take.
Read your Annual Notice of Change
Your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan sends this notice in September. Check next year's coverage and costs. Review prescriptions, pharmacies and providers, and contact the plan if you did not receive the notice.
Compare your actual needs
Use Medicare's plan comparison tool with your ZIP code, prescription list and preferred pharmacies. Review total annual costs rather than the monthly premium alone. Confirm provider participation and coverage details with the plan before enrolling.
Choose the kind of help you want
SHIP provides free, independent Medicare counseling and is not connected to an insurance company or health plan. Chapter is a separate option for help from licensed insurance agents. Ask any helper how they are paid and what plans they can discuss.
Protect your Medicare information
Do not give your Medicare or Social Security number to an unexpected caller. If you are unsure who contacted you, end the call and use a trusted number from Medicare.gov, your plan card or an official notice.
Which of these fits your situation?
AEP looks the same to everyone in the ads but plays out differently depending on what you have now. Pick what fits.
I like my current plan — do I have to do anything?Review next year's coverage before deciding
Read your Annual Notice of Change even if you like your plan. Confirm that the plan will continue to be offered and that its next-year costs, prescriptions and providers still meet your needs. If you received a notice that your plan is ending, follow that notice and ask Medicare or SHIP about your options.
I'm on Original Medicare and thinking about switching to MACheck the full coverage arrangement
Compare doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, costs and any referral or prior-authorization rules. If you leave Original Medicare with Medigap, getting Medigap again later may depend on your enrollment rights and state protections. Check those rights before changing coverage.
I'm on Medicare Advantage and thinking about going back to OriginalArrange the Medicare, drug and Medigap pieces
During AEP you can leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare and join a separate Part D plan. If you want Medigap too, check your rights before making the change. The federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally lasts six months beginning when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It is separate from annual AEP. Guaranteed-issue rights and state protections may provide other opportunities.
My Part D drug costs spiked — should I switch?Compare your prescriptions and pharmacies
Enter each medication, dose and preferred pharmacy in Medicare's plan comparison tool. Check coverage restrictions as well as premiums, deductibles and estimated prescription costs. The Part D annual out-of-pocket threshold applies to covered drugs and is different from your premium and from costs for drugs the plan does not cover.
I'm on a tight income — are there programs that lower my AEP options' costs?Ask about Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs
Extra Help may reduce Part D costs for people who meet its income, resource and other rules; some people qualify automatically. Medicare Savings Programs may help with Part B premiums and other Medicare costs under state rules. Ask Social Security about Extra Help and your Medicaid agency about Medicare Savings Programs. These programs differ in U.S. territories.
I missed AEP — can I still switch?Check another enrollment period before changing plans
If you are already on Medicare Advantage, the January 1–March 31 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period allows one change to another Medicare Advantage plan or to Original Medicare, with a separate drug plan if needed. A Special Enrollment Period may apply to certain circumstances. Ask Medicare or SHIP which period you can use; missing AEP alone does not create one.
I'm helping my parent navigate AEPStart with their coverage and preferences
Help gather the Annual Notice of Change, medication list, preferred pharmacies and doctors. Ask what is working and what is difficult about current coverage. Compare options together and respect the person's choices. SHIP offers independent counseling; Chapter offers licensed insurance help.
My situation is different from any of theseTell me what's going on — we'll figure it out together
AEP situations get specific fast — chronic conditions that need certain specialists, expensive medications that may or may not be on a formulary, second homes in different states. SHIP counselors are trained for this and don't try to sell you anything. Reach them at 1-877-839-2675 or via shiphelp.org. Or use the chat below to describe your situation and I'll point you to the next right step.
AEP questions I get most often
What can I actually change during AEP?
During AEP you can switch Medicare Advantage plans, move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and join, change or drop Part D coverage as allowed by Medicare's rules. Medigap has separate enrollment protections; AEP itself does not create a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap policy.
Is AEP when I first sign up for Medicare?
First-time enrollment in Parts A and B follows separate rules, including an Initial Enrollment Period or a qualifying Special Enrollment Period. Do not wait for fall AEP if you need to enroll in Parts A or B. Check your personal enrollment deadline with Medicare or Social Security.
Do I have to do anything during AEP if I'm happy with my plan?
Review the Annual Notice of Change and confirm that your plan will continue next year. If it will continue and still suits you, you may be able to keep it without a new enrollment. A plan-ending notice requires separate attention; ask the plan, Medicare or SHIP about your choices.
When does my new plan start if I switch during AEP?
For an accepted change during October 15–December 7, coverage normally begins January 1 of the following year. For fall 2026, that means January 1, 2027. Keep your enrollment confirmation and ask the plan to resolve any conflicting notices.
Is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) the same as AEP?
No. AEP runs October 15–December 7. The annual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1–March 31 and is for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage. It allows one change to another Medicare Advantage plan or to Original Medicare, with a separate Part D plan if needed.
What's the 5-Star SEP and how is it different from AEP?
The 5-Star Special Enrollment Period can allow a change to an available plan with an overall five-star rating once between December 8 and November 30. Eligibility and drug-coverage consequences matter. Ask Medicare or SHIP whether this option applies to the plan and coverage you want.
Should I trust the calls and ads I get during AEP season?
Treat unexpected requests for Medicare or Social Security numbers cautiously. Use official Medicare information and trusted contact details to check an offer. SHIP provides free, independent counseling. Chapter is a licensed insurance agency and a separate optional source of plan help.
How do I compare Part D plans during AEP?
Use Medicare's plan comparison tool with your current prescriptions, doses, pharmacies and ZIP code. Compare the estimated total cost and coverage rules. Confirm important details with the plan before enrolling. SHIP can help you understand the comparison.
Should I switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage during AEP?
Compare the complete arrangement: provider access, prescriptions, premiums, cost sharing and coverage rules. Check what would happen if you later wanted to return to Original Medicare and buy Medigap. SHIP can explain your options; a licensed agent can discuss the plans they offer.
What if I miss AEP entirely?
Another enrollment period may apply if you meet its conditions. The January–March Medicare Advantage window is one possibility for people already on Medicare Advantage; certain life events can create a Special Enrollment Period. Ask Medicare or SHIP to confirm the applicable dates before making a change.
Programs that interact with your AEP decisions.
Some programs change what's worth choosing during AEP. A few worth checking.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
Medicare uses different enrollment periods for Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage and Part D. Check the rules for the change you need.
Medicare Late Enrollment Penalty
A Part D late enrollment penalty may apply after a continuous period of 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable drug coverage following your Initial Enrollment Period. Exceptions apply, including while receiving Extra Help.
Medicare Extra Help (LIS)
Extra Help may lower Part D costs if you meet its rules. Income, resources and other conditions matter; some people qualify automatically. It is not available in U.S. territories.
Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
Medicare Savings Programs may pay Part B premiums and some other Medicare costs. Eligibility rules vary by state; U.S. territories have different assistance arrangements.
IRMAA (high-income surcharge)
IRMAA is based on income and tax filing status. Your Part D plan choice can change the plan premium and drug costs, but it does not change your IRMAA bracket. Part D IRMAA is separate from the plan premium.
Medicare Prescription Drug Costs
Compare premiums, deductibles, covered-drug costs and coverage restrictions for the year you are choosing. A Part D out-of-pocket threshold is not a cap on every health care expense.
Official sources for these corrections
Reviewed October 22, 2026. Dates and program qualifications are stated in the text.
- Medicare Open Enrollment
- 20 CFR 418.2101
- Medicare drug coverage costs
- CMS Part D late enrollment penalty appeals
- Plan Annual Notice of Change
- Joining a plan
- Get ready to buy Medigap
- Your Medicare coverage options
- ACL State Health Insurance Assistance Program
- 24Help current homepage disclosure
- https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs
- Medicare official guidance
- Medicare official guidance
A useful next step
Open the guide page for Dr. Ed's explanation and practical next steps.
Read Dr. Ed's guide: 2027 Medicare Advantage Guide & Worksheet
About Dr. Ed Weir
Dr. Ed Weir, PhD, spent over 20 years as a Social Security Administration District Manager and over 30 years in government service. He watched good people lose benefits they'd earned every single day because nobody told them the rules. Over $30 billion in benefits goes unclaimed every year. He built 24Help.org to change that.
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