Need help with the 2026 Medicare Open Enrollment Period: 1/1-3/31/26?

Noteworthy Notes

The Parts of Medicare Insurance

What's what in Medicare?

Part A

Part A is your hospital coverage that assists in paying for your medical stays, whether they be hospital visits, skilled nursing facility stays, or hospice care.

Part B

Part B covers your medical services such as doctor’s visits, ambulance rides or lab tests. Prescribed durable medical equipment like wheelchairs and sleep apnea machines is also covered.

Part C

The alternative to Original Medicare is Part C, which is also known as Medicare Advantage. Offered by federally approved private insurers, Medicare Advantage combines Parts A and B into one plan with one card. Due to this, they are also often called Medicare Replacement plans. Some plans may offer additional benefits.

Part D

Medicare Part D is an optional plan that covers your prescription drugs. Much like Medicare Advantage, Part D is offered by federally approved private insurers. Your Part D plan defines covered drugs and the pharmacies where you can pick them up.

Medicare Supplements

Known commonly as Medigap plans, Medicare Supplements are sold by approved insurers and cover the copays and deductibles that Parts A and B do not. While you can combine a Medicare Supplement with Parts A and B, you cannot pair one with Medicare Advantage

Medicare AEP

(Annual Enrollment Period)

October 15th - December 7th

What can you do during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?

Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage).
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.
Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan (Part D) if you’re in Original Medicare.
Coverage starts January 1st of the next year (the plan must get your enrollment request by December 7th).

Medicare OEP

(Open Enrollment Period)

January 1st - March 31st

What can you do during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period?

Switch to a different Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan or drop your MA plan to return to Original Medicare (and potentially join a Part D plan).
The main annual window for big changes AEP (below) is Oct 15-Dec 7, but if you have a MA plan and want to swap it out in the first quarter of the year, you can use the MA OEP (Jan 1-Mar 31).
Only 1 change allowed during the MA OEP (Open Enrollment Period).
The change takes effect the first day of the month after your request is received.

Before Joining ANY Insurance Plan:

What should you keep in mind?

Find out which plans are available in your area.
Does the plan meet your needs?
Does the plan covers your prescriptions and include the benefits you need?
Are your doctors and pharmacies in the plan’s network?
What are the monthly premiums, deductibles, and an estimate of your yearly costs for drugs you regularly take?
Do you have any other health insurance or drug coverage and, if so, how will it work with or be affected by the new plan?
Do you live in another state for part of the year and, if so, will the new plan cover you there?

Go over all of these questions (and more) with your Noteworthy Agent.

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