Your Medicare & Medicare Advantage Annual Enrollment Checklist

If you’ve got a parent, or you yourself, sitting down this fall with a stack of mail from Medicare, this checklist is for you. It walks through exactly what to check during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), October 15 through December 7 — no insurance background required. Plenty of people work through this together with a family member, and that’s a good way to do it, not a sign you’re missing something.

Before You Start: What You’ll Need

Grab these four things, and you’re ready to go:

• Your Medicare card (the red, white, and blue one)
• Your current plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter
• A list of your current doctors and specialists
• A list of your current medications

That’s it. This whole review takes most people 15 to 20 minutes — think of it as a quick check-in, not homework. If you’re working through this with a parent or family member, it’s easier with two sets of eyes.

Step 1: Read Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)

Every fall, your plan sends you an Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC. It’s the most useful document in this process because it spells out exactly what’s changing about your plan for next year—costs, covered drugs, and network.

If you only do one thing from this checklist, read your ANOC. Everything else below is about knowing what to look for once you have it.

Step 2: Check That Your Doctors & Specialists Are Still In-Network

This is worth real attention, not a quick glance. Check your Palm primary care team first, then any outside specialists you see regularly — cardiologists, endocrinologists, and the like. Networks can shift from year to year even when the rest of a plan looks the same.

If you’re on an HMO-style plan, you may need a referral from your primary care provider before seeing a specialist. That’s normal, and it’s worth knowing before you need an appointment, not after — a referral requirement isn’t a barrier; it’s just how the coordination works.

Don’t rely on the plan’s provider directory alone—it can be outdated. Call the specialist’s office directly to confirm they’re still accepting your plan before you assume anything has or hasn’t changed.

Step 3: Review Your Prescription Drug Costs

Every plan sorts covered drugs into cost tiers, and those tiers can shift from year to year. That can go either way — a medication might cost more next year, or it might cost less, even though it’s still “covered.” That’s exactly why checking is worth it: this isn’t only about catching a price increase; it’s also a real chance to find out you could pay less for something you’re already taking.

To see your actual total drug cost for the year — not just the copay on one prescription — use Medicare’s official Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov. It lets you enter your specific medications and compare what you’d actually pay across different plans.

If you’re on a limited income, Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs exist to lower what you pay for premiums, deductibles, and drug costs. They’re worth a quick look if cost is a concern, and Medicare.gov can tell you whether you qualify.

Step 4: Compare the Extra Benefits You Actually Use

Dental, vision, hearing, transportation, and an over-the-counter allowance — these vary by plan and can change year to year. If you use any of them, confirm they’re still included rather than assuming.

Step 5: Look at Total Cost, Not Just the Premium

A low monthly premium can be misleading. Your real annual cost is the premium plus deductible plus copays plus coinsurance. A plan with a slightly higher premium but lower cost-sharing can end up cheaper overall, especially if you see doctors often or take several medications. For reference, the standard 2027 Part D deductible is rising to $700 and the annual out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs to $2,400 — your specific plan’s numbers may differ, so check your ANOC rather than assuming the standard figures apply to you.

Step 6: Talk to Your Care Team

Your Palm care team can help you think through how a plan change might affect your ongoing care — not which plan to pick, but what matters for your specific health needs. That’s a conversation worth having before December 7, not after. For the bigger picture on what’s changing this AEP season, see our Annual Enrollment Period overview.

Quick Checklist Recap (Printable)

Save this section, screenshot it, or print it out:

• Read your ANOC letter
• Confirm your doctors and specialists are still in-network
• Check your prescription drug costs and tiers
• Compare the extra benefits you actually use
• Add up your total cost, not just the premium
• Talk to your care team about any changes you’re considering

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ANOC and why does it matter?

An Annual Notice of Change is the letter your plan sends every fall that lists exactly what’s changing for the coming year—costs, covered drugs, and network. It’s the most useful single document for your annual review.

How do I know if my specialist is still in-network?

Check the plan’s provider directory, but don’t stop there — call the specialist’s office directly to confirm, since directories aren’t always current.

How can I estimate my prescription drug costs for next year?

Use Medicare’s official Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov. It can estimate your total annual drug cost, not just the copay on a single prescription.

What happens if I don’t make any changes during AEP?

Your current plan continues into the new year. If your plan is discontinued, you’d qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new one outside the usual windows.

This checklist is for general information and isn’t personalized insurance advice. If you have questions about your care at Palm, or want to confirm your specialists and network status, give us a call.