Annual Enrollment
What You Can Change During Medicare Annual Enrollment
During Medicare Annual Enrollment, October 15 through December 7, eligible beneficiaries can generally switch Medicare Advantage plans, move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and join, change, or drop Part D coverage. New coverage generally begins January 1.
Call Gala Health · 934-222-5466What Annual Enrollment allows you to change
Before returning to Original Medicare, investigate whether you can obtain Medigap coverage; federal guaranteed-issue rights are limited outside certain situations, and state protections vary. Also confirm Part D coverage, provider access, ongoing treatments, prescriptions, pharmacy status, and how any employer or retiree coverage could be affected.
Practical checklist
Compare switching Medicare Advantage plans.
Review a return to Original Medicare before acting.
Check stand-alone Part D choices when eligible.
Confirm when new coverage takes effect.
Do not assume every change is reversible
Do not cancel current coverage until the new enrollment, effective date, and consequences for Medigap or retiree coverage are confirmed.
Before changing coverage
Check providers, drugs, and effective dates
Compare next year’s providers, prescriptions, pharmacies, costs, and plan rules before requesting a change.
Compare next year’s total costs
Compare next year’s total costs and coverage changes—not just premiums—before replacing or keeping your current plan.
Use current Annual Enrollment documents
Compare the current plan’s Annual Notice of Change with next year’s Evidence of Coverage, formulary, provider directory, and pharmacy network. Use Medicare’s official Open Enrollment guidance and our Annual Enrollment checklist. Do not cancel existing coverage until the new enrollment and effective date are confirmed.
Educational information only; not legal or medical advice. Plan availability and benefits vary by location and eligibility.
Review next year’s options
Gala Health can help you compare next-year Medicare options around your providers, prescriptions, preferred pharmacies, costs, travel, and coverage priorities. Bring the Annual Notice of Change and current medication list to a plan review.
Request a plan review