September & October—Review and Compare Medicare Advantage Plans
Review any notices from your plan regarding changes for the upcoming year. To learn more about your options, download Medicare and You 2026
Compare: In October, use our on-site Medicare tools to find a plan that meets your needs.
This is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can make changes to their health and prescription drug plans for the following year.
Between October 15 and December 7
Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage.
Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.
January 1—Coverage Begins
Your new coverage begins if you switched to a new plan. If you remain with the same plan, any changes to coverage, benefits, or costs for the new year will take effect on January 1.
Between January 1–March 31
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO or PPO), you can make one change to a different plan or switch back to Original Medicare (and join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan) once during this period. Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request.
When to buy a Medicare Supplement policy
The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which is the six-month period that begins on the first day of the month in which you turn 65 or older and have enrolled in Part B.
(Some states have additional Open Enrollment Periods.) After this enrollment period, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy. If you can buy one, it may be more expensive.
If you delay in Part B because you have group health coverage based on your (or your spouse’s) current employment, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period won’t start until you sign up for Part B.
If you have questions about enrollment, please don’t hesitate to call us. We’re here to help.
This information comes from www.medicare.gov and Medicare and You.
By contacting the phone number on this website, you will be directed to a licensed agent.
Schedule convenient and private appointments by phone, online, or mobile Zoom Meeting. Local Help, joining, enrolling agent, Broker O’Neal Insurance Group, New to Medicare, Turning 65, Understanding 2026 Plan.
We offer free broker agent help wit enrollment for Aetna Medicare, Humana Medicare, Devoted Health Medicare, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois Medicare, AARP Medicare, UnitedHealthcare Medicare, Cigna Medicare, Clover Health Medicare, Essence HealthCare Medicare, KCA, Kelsey Care Medicare Advantage, Scan Health Medicare Plan, Select Medicare Health, For residents living in Mobile Alabama, Phoenix Arizona, Chicago Illinois, Indiana, New Orleans and Slidell Louisiana, Jackson Mississippi, Missouri, Las Vegas Nevada, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio Texas, Utah.
Medicare Part C, Benefits and Coverage
Part C regulates and authorizes Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans are private health plans that contract with the government to provide and administer Medicare benefits. Medicare Advantage plans must cover both Part A (except for hospice care) and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover items and services that Original Medicare does not cover.
• Individuals enrolled in a Part C plan still get hospice benefits, but Original Medicare pays for them.
