Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) 2026: Your Complete FAQ Guide

You can enroll in a Medicare plan during AEP by contacting us. In just minutes, our licensed insurance agents can compare the Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Supplement Insurance plan options available to you. This checklist can give you a better idea of what you’ll need and help you prepare for your call. 

Medicare Advantage plans—also known as Medicare Part C—provide an alternative to Original Medicare. Offered by Medicare-approved private health insurance companies, Medicare Advantage plans are legally required to offer at least the same benefits as Original Medicare but may include additional routine coverage. 

You don’t have to make changes during AEP, but Medicare plans tend to change, so it can be beneficial to compare your options annually. 

When you can change and add to plans varies from person to person, but for most, there are limited opportunities to join plans outside the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Annual Enrollment Period. Learn more about the different enrollment periods. 

AEP is important because Medicare plan details can change annually, so it's a good idea to compare your options each fall to confirm that your health and prescription drug needs are covered for the coming year. Even if you’re happy with your current Medicare plan, reviewing it during AEP could help you make sure you’re not overpaying or missing out on additional benefits. 

If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug plan and you don’t want to make any changes to your coverage for the upcoming year, you don’t need to do anything during AEP as long as your current plan is still available. You should receive a notice if your plan is non-renewable prior to the enrollment period. 

While AEP allows you to switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare, it does not give you a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) plan. In most states, you will still have to go through medical underwriting, meaning a private insurer can deny you coverage or charge more based on your health history.

Learn more about Medicare Supplement Insurance plans.

Even if you do nothing, your plan may change. Carriers frequently update their formularies (covered drug lists) and provider networks for the new coverage year. Automatically renewing your existing plan could mean your primary doctor is no longer in-network or your medication is now a higher-cost Tier 4 drug. 

AEP (October 15 to December 7) is the only time anyone on Medicare can make changes. The January to March window is only for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage. If you have Original Medicare and miss the December 7 deadline, you are likely stuck until next year. 

Learn more about OEP.