Medicare Open Enrollment: Check Your Plan Before December 7

There is money on the line, and the deadline is December 7

Every year, Medicare opens a window where you can review and change your coverage. This is called Open Enrollment, and it runs through December 7.

Plans change their costs and rules each year. The plan that was a good fit last year may cost you more next year, or may drop a drug you take. If you do nothing, your current plan usually rolls over, even if a better and cheaper option is sitting right there.

This is your chance to make sure you are not paying more than you need to. Reviewing your plan is free. You never have to pay anyone to do it.

What you can change during this window

During Open Enrollment, you can make several switches. You can move from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or go the other way back to Original Medicare.

You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. And you can join a Medicare drug plan, drop one, or change the drug plan you already have.

The goal is simple: match your coverage to the medicines you take and the doctors you see, at a price that works for you. Any changes you make take effect January 1.

Free help is available, and it is real

You do not have to figure this out alone. Each state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP. Trained counselors help you compare plans for free. They do not sell insurance and they do not work on commission.

Be careful with anyone who pressures you to sign up fast or asks for payment to review your Medicare options. The official tools and counselors cost nothing.

OpenFinancial is not the government and cannot change your plan for you. We just want you to know the free path exists and the clock is running.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I do nothing by December 7?

Your current plan usually continues into the new year. That can mean paying more or losing coverage for a drug if your plan changed its terms.

Does it cost anything to review or switch my plan?

No. Comparing and changing your plan through Medicare.gov is free, and SHIP counselors help at no charge.

When do my changes take effect?

Changes you make during Open Enrollment take effect January 1.

Is OpenFinancial part of Medicare?

No. We are a free resource. The official path is Medicare.gov, and you never need a paid middleman.