October 1, 2026 | Aging Life Care, Caregiving, Home Care, Home Health Care
Every year, during a six-week period, adults 65 and older who are currently receiving Medicare benefits are eligible to review their plans so they’re prepared heading into the new year. From Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, Medicare recipients need to review their healthcare and prescription coverage, what they currently have, what still works for them, what might need to change for the coming year, and how to best use the resources available.
Before diving in, here are 5 things to do before Medicare Open Enrollment closes, and how to know if your plan is still working for you.
1. Review your health
Health can change month to month, year to year. As you anticipate what coverage you might need in the new year, it helps to have a starting point. Start by identifying any new medications, new diagnoses, or new appointments, such as physical therapy. Whatever changed in 2026, make sure your plan still works for your needs in 2027.
2. Review your providers
Just as your health changes, so do your providers. Maybe your primary care doctor is retiring and you’ll need a new one. Maybe a new diagnosis requires a specialist visit. Whatever it is, take a look at your current providers and confirm whether they’ll still be in-network in 2027. Providers can change which insurance plans they accept, so it’s always worth confirming that the people you prefer to see will still be covered under your plan.
3. Ask questions
Once you’ve made a list based on your health needs and your providers, the next step is reviewing the plan itself to see what’s changing from 2026 to 2027. If you’re not sure how to navigate this process, there are resources that can help. In California, Medicare recipients can reach out to a Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) counselor. For federal resources, you can connect with a representative at Medicare.gov.
If you’re calling Medicare with questions, be aware that wait times can be long. To avoid feeling rushed or flustered on the call, we recommend making a list of questions ahead of time so you can get full answers instead of quick, surface-level ones. Specific questions tend to get better answers than vague ones. For example, asking “is my plan still good?” likely won’t get you a useful response. To help you get started, here’s a list of questions to bring with you:
- Does my plan cover the specialists I’m seeing now?
- Are my current providers still in-network for 2027?
- What’s changing in my coverage for 2027?
- Are there any changes to my prescription coverage?
- Can I adjust my plan with you over the phone?
4. Watch for scams
Medicare Open Enrollment is a high-target window for scammers who take advantage of the vulnerability of seniors. Medicare doesn’t call you, and Medicare doesn’t knock on doors. If a mailer, email, or phone call feels off, trust that instinct. Report it rather than respond. It’s also wise to never share personal identifying information with someone you don’t know. To report suspicious activity, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report Medicare fraud online.
5. Gather documents and connect with a senior care professional
Finding coverage that works for your current and future needs can get tiresome. Navigating the complexities doesn’t have to be done alone. Having a guide, especially one who understands the aging journey and the intricacies of the healthcare system, can be of value.
An Aging Life Care Manager® can help guide the conversation and anticipate health needs for the coming year. While an Aging Life Care Manager® doesn’t process Medicare coverage forms, they understand how health needs change with age and can help you think through what you need now, and what might come next.
Before Medicare Open Enrollment opens, and before it closes, take this six-week window to make sure your health needs will be covered in the new year.