How to Switch Medicare Plans During AEP

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 every year, and it’s your one easy chance to change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for the coming year. The switch itself is simple — the mistakes come from skipping the homework. Here’s the order I walk clients through.

Step 1: Read your Annual Notice of Change

Your current plan mails an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September. It lists exactly what’s changing for next year — premium, copays, the drug formulary, and the network. Start here, because a plan that fit this year can look very different in January.

Step 2: Re-check your drugs and doctors

• Prescriptions. Run each of your drugs against the plan’s new formulary and tier — a single drug moving tiers can change your year.
• Doctors and hospitals. Confirm the ones you use are still in-network for next year.
• Pharmacy. Check that your preferred pharmacy is still a preferred one under the plan.

Step 3: Compare on total cost, not premium

The lowest premium often hides the highest drug or copay costs. Weigh the premium against the deductible, copays, and out-of-pocket maximum for the way you actually use care — not a best-case year.

Step 4: Enroll — and let the old plan close itself

• Just enroll in the new plan. Signing up for a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan automatically disenrolls you from the old one, so you don’t cancel anything yourself.
• Get it in writing. Keep the confirmation, and watch for your new member ID card.
• Confirm before year-end. Check that your doctors and pharmacy accept the new plan before January 1, when the change takes effect.

Step 5: Don’t wait for the deadline

Decide early in the window. Enrolling in mid-October beats the December rush, gives you time to fix any snag, and means your new card arrives before the new year. If you want a second set of eyes on the comparison, that’s what a free conversation is for — no pressure either way.