What is Medicare Open Enrollment?
It’s very important to get the most out of your Medicare health benefits. To do so, you’ll need to understand how and when you can make changes to your coverage. Every fall, Medicare offers an Open Enrollment period during which you can review your coverage and make changes to your Medicare health or prescription drug plan for the upcoming year.
The 2026 Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During this time, you can review your current Medicare coverage and make changes for 2027. Any changes you make during Open Enrollment generally take effect January 1, 2027.
If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or other Medicare health plan, you may have the option to switch plans or return to Original Medicare. You can also join, switch, or drop a Medicare prescription drug plan, depending on your current coverage.
If you have questions regarding your Medicare coverage, you can call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Why choose to opt back into a traditional Medicare plan?
Many believe that traditional Medicare, also known as Original Medicare, remains the gold standard for health care benefits. With Original Medicare, the amount of coverage and/or care you receive is generally determined by Medicare rules and your physician or other healthcare provider rather than by a Medicare Advantage insurance company’s network.
One benefit of Original Medicare is that you can generally see any doctor or healthcare provider who accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, may have provider networks and may require you to use certain doctors or facilities to receive the plan’s lowest costs. Plans can also have different rules regarding referrals and prior authorization.
Always remember: If you need emergency care, Medicare Advantage plans must cover emergency care even when you are outside your plan’s network.
Choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage is a personal decision. Be sure to consider your healthcare needs, preferred doctors and facilities, prescription medications, costs, and the benefits offered by each plan.
What is meant by the Gold Standard?
Gold has several meanings, but most associate it with the best and greatest value. We all want the best. The traditional Medicare plan is considered by many doctors, hospitals, and Medicare recipients as the gold standard of coverage.
Always review the informational materials you receive throughout the year about Medicare health or prescription drug plans. Make sure to pay attention to sections such as the “Evidence of Coverage” (EOC) and “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC). This is how you will be notified if your coverage has changed. During this Open Enrollment period, you can switch from traditional Medicare to a managed Medicare plan or from one managed care plan to another managed care plan.
Please know we want you to make the best decision to benefit your needs. If you are pleased with your current plan and it fits your needs, be sure to check that your plan does automatically enroll you into another plan each year. Oftentimes, MyCare plans will automatically enroll if you do not elect to opt out. However, if you need assistance or additional information regarding your Medicare plan, don’t hesitate to call us at 440-808-5500, select one of our homes, and ask to speak an administrator.
Remember: Medicare Open Enrollment for 2026 runs October 15 through December 7. Changes made during this period generally become effective January 1, 2027.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and is not intended to provide individual Medicare, insurance, or financial advice. Medicare rules, coverage, and plan options can change. For the most current information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.