09/25/2026
# Open Enrollment Starts October 15: Your 5-Step Medicare Review Game Plan
If you have Medicare, fall is a good time to pause and review your coverage, not panic about it.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, also called Open Enrollment, runs from **October 15 through December 7** each year. During this window, you may be able to change Medicare Advantage plans, change prescription drug coverage, or switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Changes generally begin January 1 of the following year when the plan receives your request by December 7.
You may also be hearing news about plan consolidations, service-area changes, or other updates. That can feel confusing, especially when several notices arrive close together.
The good news? You do not have to figure everything out at once. Use this simple five-step Medicare review game plan to move through the season calmly and carefully.
# # First, remember: an ANOC letter does not require a plan change
Your plan’s **Annual Notice of Change**, or ANOC, usually arrives in the fall. Medicare.gov says the notice explains changes to your plan’s coverage, costs, and other features that will take effect in January.
Receiving an ANOC does **not** mean you have to leave your current plan.
It means you have new information to review. Your plan may still meet your needs next year. Or, you may decide that another option deserves a closer look.
Medicare plans and benefits can change from year to year. That is why an annual review matters, even if you have been comfortable with your coverage.
# # Step 1: Put the important dates on your calendar
Start with the dates:
- **By September 30:** Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan members generally receive their ANOC.
- **October 15:** Annual Enrollment Period begins.
- **December 7:** Annual Enrollment Period ends.
- **January 1:** Changes made during the enrollment period generally take effect.
Give yourself enough time to read your documents and ask questions. The earlier you review your ANOC and options, the more time you have to compare and ask questions without pressure. Waiting until the final days can make the process feel rushed.
Create a small Medicare folder, paper or digital, with:
- Your current plan name
- Your ANOC
- Your Medicare card
- A list of your doctors and specialists
- Your current prescriptions
- Your preferred pharmacy
- Notes about upcoming medical care
Having this information in one place makes the review easier.
# # Step 2: Read your ANOC from beginning to end
It can be tempting to skim the letter or set it aside. Try not to.
Look for sections that explain changes to:
- Medical coverage
- Prescription drug coverage
- Doctor and hospital networks
- Pharmacy networks
- Extra benefits
- Coverage rules
- The plan’s service area
- The plan’s availability next year
You do not need to understand every insurance term immediately. Start by marking anything that looks different from this year.
Pay special attention to sentences that include phrases such as:
- “Beginning January 1”
- “Changes to your benefits”
- “Changes to your drug list”
- “Changes to your provider network”
- “This plan will no longer be offered”
- “Your service area is changing”
If you do not receive your ANOC, contact your plan and request a copy. You can also visit the [Medicare.gov page about the Plan Annual Notice of Change](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/mailings/costs-and-coverage/upcoming-plan-changes).
# # Step 3: Check your doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacy
Your coverage should work with the care you actually use.
Make a short list of your:
- Primary care doctor
- Specialists
- Preferred hospital or medical center
- Regular prescriptions
- Preferred pharmacy
Then check whether your doctors and pharmacy will continue to work with your plan next year. For prescriptions, look for changes to the plan’s drug list and any new coverage rules.
Also take a moment to check whether any extra benefits you use, like dental, vision, hearing, or over-the-counter allowances, will continue next year, since those can change.
This step is especially important if you:
- See several specialists
- Take regular medications
- Have a planned procedure
- Receive care from a particular hospital
- Spend part of the year in another state
- Depend on a specific pharmacy
You can use [Medicare.gov’s Plan Compare tool](https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/) to review available coverage options. You can also ask your doctors and pharmacies directly whether they expect to participate in a plan next year.
Keep in mind that provider and pharmacy information can change. A quick check now may help prevent an unwelcome surprise later.
# # Step 4: Watch for service-area and plan availability changes
Carrier announcements can create a lot of noise during the fall. You may hear about plans merging, consolidating, leaving an area, or changing the counties they serve.
Rather than relying only on advertisements or headlines, look at the official notices sent to you and verify information through Medicare.gov or the plan itself. Not every headline or carrier announcement applies to your specific plan, so it helps to confirm what changed for you personally.
If your plan is no longer available in your area, or if its service area changes, read the instructions carefully. You may receive information about your options and the deadlines that apply to your situation.
This is also a good time to ask:
- Is my plan still offered where I live?
- Will my doctors and pharmacy remain available?
- Are my prescriptions still covered?
- Are the benefits I actually use continuing?
- Have any important coverage rules changed?
- Do I still feel comfortable with how the plan works?
Remember, a plan change in the news does not automatically mean your coverage is changing. Confirm what applies to your specific plan.
# # Step 5: Compare your options without rushing
Once you have reviewed your documents, decide whether your current plan still fits your needs.
There are three reasonable outcomes:
1. **Stay where you are** because the coverage still works for you.
2. **Explore other options** because important changes affect your care or budget.
3. **Ask for help** because you are unsure what the information means.
You do not have to change plans just because it is Annual Enrollment Period. You also do not have to stay in a plan simply because you have had it for several years.
If you decide to compare, Medicare’s official [Open Enrollment page](https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment) explains what changes may be available during this period. Medicare.gov also provides information about switching coverage, prescription drug plans, and Medicare Advantage plans.
Take notes as you compare. Write down what matters most to you, such as keeping a doctor, maintaining prescription coverage, having access to a certain hospital, or making sure your coverage fits your overall situation.
# # A personal note from Ramon
Ramon Sanchez entered the insurance business because of his mother. She is now one of his members and clients, so Medicare is not just a topic he discusses professionally, it is part of his own family’s story.
That experience shaped the way Ramon serves people. He believes Medicare conversations should be clear, respectful, and personal. You should have room to ask questions without feeling pressured to make a quick decision.
At Sanchez Medicare Solutions, we focus on education first. We want you to understand your choices, know what questions to ask, and feel confident about the decision you make.
# # Need Medicare enrollment help?
If you would like another set of eyes on your ANOC or want help preparing for Annual Enrollment Period, reach out to Rachel, our Member Services Coordinator, at **+1 253-294-7838**.
If you would like help organizing your questions before you review your options, you can call Rachel, our Member Services Coordinator, at +1 253-294-7838.
You may also visit [Medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/) for official Medicare information and enrollment guidance.
There is no need to panic when you see a plan update in the mail or hear a carrier announcement. Gather your information, read your notice, check your doctors and prescriptions, and give yourself time to make an informed decision.
# # The Sanchez Standard™
At Sanchez Medicare Solutions, our promise is simple:
**Education First. People Always.**
Medicare is personal. Your questions deserve clear answers, and your coverage should be reviewed with your health needs, family, and goals in mind.
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*We do not offer every plan available in your area. For information about all of your options, please contact Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).*
