Your Annual Enrollment Period Checklist: Key Dates and Smart Moves

Why AEP Matters

Every year, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans change premiums, drug formularies, networks, and benefits. AEP is your once-a-year window to switch plans without health questions.

Your AEP Checklist

1. Pull your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) - your current plan mails this in September. Read it.
2. List your current medications - name, dose, frequency.
3. List your current providers - primary care, specialists, preferred hospital.
4. Review whether your plan still covers them next year - networks and formularies change.
5. Compare against new plans - we run all available plans in your county.
6. Decide and enroll - coverage starts January 1.

What You Can Do During AEP

• Switch from Original Medicare to Advantage (or back).
• Switch from one Advantage plan to another.
• Switch from one Part D plan to another.
• Drop or add Part D coverage.

What You Can't Do During AEP

You generally can't switch Medigap plans without underwriting outside your initial enrollment window. AEP doesn't change that.