10/15/2026
Things to Consider During Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
October 15 - December 7
Determining the best Medicare coverage option for an individual’s specific needs can be
complex. Here are some simple tips to help with Medicare coverage decisions
• If you are currently in a Medicare Advantage (MA) or Part D prescription drug plan, look
for and read carefully the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which explains how your
benefits will be changing next year.
• Watch your mail and email for notices from Medicare and Social Security. Read them
carefully and review fine print to be sure they are legitimate notices, and not junk mail
designed to look official.
• Review the Medicare & You handbook issued annually by the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), the official government Medicare agency.
• If you are considering a private MA plan for your coverage, rather than the Traditional
Medicare program, be sure to review plan options on the Medicare Plan Finder at
www.Medicare.gov which you can click on below, or by contacting your preferred health care providers, hospitals,
and facilities to be sure they will be available in the MA plan you choose.
• If you are currently enrolled in an MA plan provided by your employer to its
employees/retirees (called an Employer Group Waiver Plan), check with your plan. It
may have different enrollment periods, service areas, plan premiums, and rules.
• If you have limited income, you may qualify for the Medicare Savings
Program (MSP), which can help reduce Medicare premiums and/or cost-sharing
expenses for care and services covered by Medicare and can help reduce prescription drug costs. Single: $3,272/gross monthly; Married: $4,437/combined gross monthly. Ther is no asset limit for this program
* Medicare supplement insurance, known as Medigap, helps cover Medicare Part A and Part B cost-sharing requirements, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Medigap policies, which are sold by private insurance companies, are a key source of supplemental coverage for people in traditional Medicare without employer-sponsored retiree benefits or Medicaid (Medigap does not work with Medicare Advantage). Only four states (CT, MA, ME, NY) require either continuous or annual guaranteed issue protections for Medigap for all beneficiaries ages 65 and older, regardless of medical history, therefore you cannot be denied purchasing a policy based on medical underwriting. Additionally, CT has community rating protections prohibiting rates being based on age, health, gender, etc. You are not locked into a Medigap policy for a particular amount of time, such as a calendar year.
* There is help available to navigate these decisions through the Senior Center. Information needed will be a list of all your prescription medications,
preferred pharmacies, and health care providers to help review your options.
The official U.S. government website for Medicare, a health insurance program for people age 65 or older and younger people with disabilities.
