Every fall, Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans can change their premiums, covered drugs, copays, pharmacies, and doctor networks. Most people never check. According to KFF, nearly 7 in 10 people with Medicare did not compare their coverage during a recent Open Enrollment. If you do nothing, your plan renews automatically, along with every one of its changes.

This guide from 65 Incorporated walks you through Medicare Open Enrollment in plain English, so you can make confident decisions instead of hoping for the best.

What you'll learn:

• What Open Enrollment is, the key dates, and what you can and cannot change between October 15 and December 7

• How to read your Annual Notice of Change: when it arrives, what it looks like, and exactly what to look for

• Why your Annual Notice of Change is only the beginning, and what it does not tell you about your drugs, doctors, and actual costs

• How your plan can change completely while keeping the same name

• Why the Part D out-of-pocket limit only protects drugs your plan covers

• Why Open Enrollment does not apply to Medigap policies, and why switching Medicare paths can be permanent

• A step-by-step checklist for reviewing your coverage

• Where to get help, and what to ask each source

• How HeyMOE can automatically compare stand-alone Part D plans for you each year

Who it's for:

• Anyone with a Medicare Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan

• People with Original Medicare and a Medigap policy who want to understand what they can and cannot change each fall

• Adult children, caregivers, and financial professionals who help someone else with Medicare

Why trust this guide:

65 Incorporated does not sell insurance and receives no commissions. This guide was written by Melinda A. Caughill, CSA, co-founder of 65 Incorporated and i65, with one goal: helping you understand your options before you make a change you cannot undo.

Pairs well with our companion guide, Medigap and Medicare Open Enrollment: What You Can (and Usually Cannot) Change, which includes a 50-state supplement on Medigap switching rules.

Product details:

• Format: Digital download (PDF)

• Length: 17 pages, including a table of contents

• Edition: Version 1.0, September 2026

• Includes the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket limit and deductible