CENTRE– Medicare open enrollment begins today, Thursday, Oct. 15, giving beneficiaries until Dec. 7 to review coverage and make changes for 2027.

Changes made during the annual enrollment period take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The plan must receive the enrollment request by Dec. 7.

For Alabama residents, free help is available through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP, at 1-800-243-5463.

The Alabama Department of Senior Services announced the enrollment dates earlier this month. Its message takes on new importance today as the annual opportunity to change Medicare health and prescription drug coverage opens.

“Medicare plans can change every year—and your current one might be changing,” Commissioner Jean Brown said in the announcement.

What Beneficiaries Can Change

According to Medicare’s official enrollment guidance, available changes depend on a person’s existing coverage.

During the fall enrollment period, beneficiaries can:

• Join, drop, or switch Medicare Advantage plans, with or without prescription drug coverage.
• Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage or return from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.
• Join, drop, or switch a separate Medicare prescription drug plan while using Original Medicare.

However, changing coverage requires more than comparing a plan’s name or advertised premium. Beneficiaries should check how the available options fit their prescriptions, medical providers, and expected expenses.

Review Your Current Plan First

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says health and drug plans can change costs, coverage, provider networks, and pharmacy networks each year.

For that reason, beneficiaries should read their Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage documents. These materials explain how the current plan works and what may change next year.

A plan that met someone’s needs this year may have different costs or coverage for 2027. Likewise, changes in a person’s medications or medical needs can affect which option works best.

However, everyone does not have to switch plans. CMS says beneficiaries generally need not act if their current plan remains available and will meet their needs next year.

Reviewing the documents first can help identify questions to bring to a counselor before making a decision.

Compare Prescriptions, Doctors, Pharmacies, and Costs

Medicare recommends checking several practical details before joining a plan.

First, enter all regularly used prescription drugs into the Medicare Plan Finder to compare estimated costs. The tool uses a ZIP code to identify available plans, and beneficiaries can review 2027 options.

Also, ask doctors and pharmacies whether they participate in the plan’s network. A familiar insurance company name does not replace checking the specific plan under consideration.

Compare monthly premiums, deductibles, and estimated yearly prescription expenses. In addition, look at how coverage would work if you live in another state for part of the year.

People with other health or prescription coverage should consult their benefits administrator or insurer before making changes.

Keeping a list of medications, pharmacies, and medical providers nearby can make those comparisons easier. It also gives a counselor a useful starting point for discussing individual coverage needs.

Free Help Through Alabama SHIP

Alabama SHIP provides free, confidential education and counseling to help beneficiaries understand Medicare and related insurance choices.

In addition, counselors and volunteers are not affiliated with an insurance company and do not attempt to sell coverage. Instead, they help participants understand options and make informed decisions.

The program also assists with prescription plan comparisons, Medicare benefits, supplemental insurance questions, billing, claims, and appeals. It also provides information about programs that may help people with limited income pay Medicare expenses.

Call 1-800-243-5463 to connect with assistance through the local Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center.

Medigap Follows Different Rules

Beneficiaries considering a return to Original Medicare should also review their prescription coverage and supplemental insurance options before switching.

Medicare Supplement Insurance, commonly called Medigap, helps pay certain out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare. However, the fall Medicare enrollment period does not create a blanket right to purchase any Medigap policy.

Under federal Medigap rules, the standard six-month enrollment period begins when someone is 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.

After that period, purchasing options may be limited, and coverage may cost more. Certain circumstances provide additional protections, and state rules can also affect eligibility.

A SHIP counselor can help explain those distinctions before a beneficiary changes coverage.

Ask About Help Paying Medicare Costs

People with limited income and resources may qualify for Extra Help, which assists with Medicare Part D expenses.

The program also helps eligible beneficiaries pay drug plan premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other prescription costs. Some people qualify automatically, but others must apply.

SHIP can also help people understand Medicare Savings Programs and other available assistance. Eligibility depends on the program and the applicant’s circumstances.

Use Official Enrollment Channels

Beneficiaries can also compare plans and enroll through Medicare.gov, contact a plan directly, or call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

The fall enrollment period differs from initial Medicare enrollment and other enrollment opportunities. For example, certain life changes can create a special enrollment period.

The immediate deadline for this annual review is Dec. 7. Alabama residents who want help can begin by calling SHIP at 1-800-243-5463.