Medicare AEP Week 1: Review Your 2027 Coverage Now
Find An Agent
Search your ZIP code to find trusted Medicare agents near you.
Trusted by Thousands of Seniors Nationwide
Medicare AEP Week 1: Review Your 2027 Coverage Now
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period is now open. This article is the Week 1 companion to our Medicare AEP 2027: 8-Week Action Plan, which breaks the October 15 through December 7 enrollment window into manageable weekly steps. Changes submitted during AEP generally take effect January 1, 2027.
Your Week 1 goal is simple: get organized before the season gets busy. Find your Annual Notice of Change, make sure you have the information you need to review your 2027 coverage, and book time with a local Medicare agent if you want help comparing options. Starting now gives you room to work through the remaining weeks without rushing toward the December 7 deadline.
Week 1: October 15-21
Focus on these first steps:
- Find your 2027 Annual Notice of Change from your Medicare Advantage or stand-alone Part D plan.
- If you cannot find it, contact your plan and request another copy.
- Gather your current plan information, prescriptions, doctors, and preferred pharmacy so they are ready for review.
- Book time with a local Medicare agent early, before AEP calendars fill up.
- Keep the full 8-week AEP action plan handy for the weeks ahead.
Key Medicare Dates for the 2027 Plan Year
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | AEP opens |
| December 7, 2026 | AEP ends. Last day to make changes for 2027 |
| January 1, 2027 | Your new coverage begins |
| January 1 – March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you may switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare once. |
If you miss AEP and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you will generally have to wait until next fall to change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. If you are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period may provide another limited opportunity. Mark December 7 on your calendar now, and plan to finish your review well before it.
Who Should Review Their Coverage?
Everyone with Medicare, even if you’re happy with your plan. During AEP you can:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
- Join a Medicare Advantage plan if you’re in Original Medicare
- Join, drop, or change your Part D prescription drug plan
One important exception: AEP does not create a Medigap enrollment right or deadline. You may apply to change a Medigap policy at any time, but outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, a guaranteed-issue right, or applicable state protection, an insurer may use medical underwriting and may deny the application or charge more. If you have a Medigap plan, AEP is still a good time to review your Part D drug coverage and supplement costs.
What Comes After Week 1: Your 6-Step 2027 Coverage Review
Week 1 is about getting your materials together and getting on the calendar. Over the next several weeks of the 8-week AEP action plan, use the six checks below to work through costs, prescriptions, providers, personal changes, and available plans before you make a decision.
1. Find your Annual Notice of Change.
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, your plan should have sent your Annual Notice of Change by now, either on paper or electronically if you chose electronic delivery. The notice explains important changes to coverage, costs, and other plan terms for 2027. Cannot find it? Contact your plan and ask for another copy. This is the quickest way to see whether your current plan still meets your needs.
A low monthly premium can come with a high deductible, significant copays, or a high out-of-pocket maximum. Compare expected yearly costs, including premiums, deductibles, doctor and specialist copays, and prescription costs. Your actual spending will depend on the care and medications you use.
The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report estimates the standard 2027 Part B premium at $209.50 a month, up from $202.90 in 2026; CMS has not yet announced the final 2027 amount. For Medicare Part D in 2027, the annual out-of-pocket threshold is $2,400 and no plan may charge a deductible above $700. Some plans have a lower deductible or no deductible. Check these amounts against your current budget.
3. Check your prescriptions.
Plans can move a drug to a higher cost tier, add restrictions, or drop it altogether. Make a list of every medication you take, with the dose, and confirm each one is still on the plan’s 2027 formulary. Also check which pharmacies are preferred. Filling a prescription at the wrong pharmacy can cost you more than you’d expect.
4. Confirm your doctors are still in network.
This matters most if you have a Medicare Advantage plan. Networks change, so confirm that your primary care doctor, specialists, and preferred hospital are in-network for 2027. In a Medicare Advantage HMO, you generally must use network providers except for emergency care, out-of-area urgent care, and temporary out-of-area dialysis. Some HMO Point-of-Service plans allow certain out-of-network services at a higher cost.
5. Think about what’s changed for you (and your spouse).
Have you started a new medication? Were you diagnosed with something you’ll need treatment for next year? Is your spouse’s health different from yours? Don’t assume the same plan is right for both of you. Choose coverage for the year ahead, not the year behind.
6. Compare your options where you live.
Use Medicare’s Plan Finder to compare plans available in your ZIP code. Enter every prescription you take for more useful cost estimates, and compare two or three alternatives with your current plan, even if you ultimately keep it.
Why You Should Talk to a Local Agent
Medicare is a national program, but Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plan availability, networks, and prices vary by location.
A local Medicare insurance agent can help you compare the plans they represent and explain local networks, pharmacy options, and plan rules. Agents and brokers may receive compensation from plans, and not every agent represents every plan available in your area. Ask which insurers the agent represents, then verify provider and pharmacy information directly with the plan. For free counseling that is not connected to an insurance company or health plan, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
Booking an appointment is one of the two core Week 1 actions in the 8-week plan. AEP is busy, and agent calendars fill up quickly. Reaching out in October gives you time to compare in person or by phone, think it over, and decide before the deadline.
Ready to review your 2027 coverage? Find a Medicare agent near you. Search the AAMSI directory by ZIP code, and you won’t have to enter any personal information to see who’s available in your area.
Keep going with the 8-week plan.
Once you have your Annual Notice of Change and your review materials together, move on to the next weekly steps in the Medicare AEP 2027: 8-Week Action Plan. The schedule carries you from your first review through plan comparison, decision-making, enrollment, and final confirmation before December 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period end?
AEP runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. Changes you make during this window take effect on January 1, 2027.
Do I need to review my coverage if I’m happy with my plan?
Yes. Your plan’s costs, benefits, provider network, and drug list can change from one year to the next, and the plans available in your area may also change. A quick review tells you whether your current plan still fits your needs for 2027.
What should I do first when reviewing my 2027 Medicare coverage?
Read your Annual Notice of Change. It summarizes important changes to your current plan for 2027, giving you a starting point for comparison.
Can I change my Medigap plan during AEP?
Yes. You may apply to change Medigap plans during AEP or at another time, but AEP does not give you a special right to buy a policy. Outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, a guaranteed-issue right, or applicable state protection, an insurer may use medical underwriting and may deny the application or charge more. Review Medicare’s guidance on switching Medigap policies and confirm your state’s rules before applying.
What if I miss the December 7 deadline?
If you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage on January 1, you can make one change between January 1 and March 31 during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and, if needed, join a stand-alone Part D plan. This period does not let someone with Original Medicare switch stand-alone Part D plans. You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period because of circumstances such as moving, losing other coverage, or a plan ending service in your area. Otherwise, you will typically have to wait until next fall.
How do I find a local Medicare agent?
Use the AAMSI directory at MedicareSupp.org to search for Medicare insurance agents by ZIP code. You can see who serves your area before you share any personal details.
