Coverage & next steps

How to Review Your Medicare Coverage Before December 7

Reviewing your Medicare coverage before the December 7 deadline sounds like a chore, but it becomes manageable when you follow the same checklist every year. The goal is simple: catch any changes your plan made for the coming year, and confirm it is still the best fit for the drugs you take, the doctors you see, and your budget.

The steps below walk through a yearly Medicare review for the 2026 plan year, timed to the Annual Enrollment Period that runs October 15 to December 7. Take them in order, write down what you find, and you will end up with a clear side-by-side view you can actually trust instead of a stack of unread mailers.

Step by step

1. Mark the calendar: note that the Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, and aim to finish well before the last day to avoid the rush.
2. Find and read your Annual Notice of Change, which your plan mails around late September, and highlight any changes to premiums, drug costs, copays, or your network.
3. Write down every prescription you take with its dosage and frequency, since drug coverage is where plans change the most and where costs hide.
4. List the doctors, specialists, hospitals, and pharmacies you want to keep, so you can check each one against a plan's network for the coming year.
5. Go to the free official Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, enter your ZIP code, and add your drug list so the cost estimates reflect your real medications.
6. Check whether each of your drugs is still on the formulary and on the same cost tier, and watch for new restrictions like prior authorization.
7. For two or three finalists, record the annual premium, deductibles, common copays, out-of-pocket exposure, and whether your providers and pharmacies are in network.
8. Compare total realistic yearly cost, not just the monthly premium, by adding premiums plus the copays for the care and drugs you actually expect to use.
9. Make your choice and enroll before December 7, save your confirmation number, and set a reminder to run this same review again next fall.

Tips & mistakes to avoid

• Do not throw away the Annual Notice of Change; it is the one document that tells you exactly how your current plan is changing next year.
• Verify your drugs and providers for the upcoming plan year, not the current one, because formularies and networks reset every January 1.
• Ignore the headline premium first and compare total yearly cost, since a low premium can hide higher copays or a drug you take being dropped.
• If any mailer or caller promises cash, guaranteed approval, or free money, slow down and confirm the details from the official medicare.gov source.

FAQ

Where can I compare Medicare plans for free?

The official Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in your area at no cost. You can enter your prescriptions to see estimated drug costs and check which plans include your pharmacies. It is the most neutral place to start before talking with anyone who sells plans.

What if I miss the December 7 deadline?

If you miss the Annual Enrollment Period, your current plan generally continues into the new year, so you are not left without coverage, unless the plan was discontinued. People already in a Medicare Advantage plan get another chance to switch during the Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31. Certain life events, like moving or losing other coverage, can also trigger a Special Enrollment Period.

How long does a yearly Medicare review take?

Plan on about an hour or two if you gather your prescriptions and provider list ahead of time. Most of the work is that upfront preparation, after which entering the details into the Plan Finder goes quickly. Comparing two or three finalists closely is usually more useful than skimming a dozen plans.

Do I have to switch plans every year?

No. Reviewing your coverage each year does not mean you must change it, and staying put can be the right call if your plan still fits. The point of the review is to make sure the changes your plan made for the new year still work for your drugs, doctors, and budget. If everything still lines up, doing nothing is a fine and informed choice.

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