Keep Your Medicare Plan or Make a Change? A Clear Guide Before December 7

November brings plenty of Medicare advertisements, mail and phone calls. With so many choices being promoted, you might wonder: “Am I missing something if I keep the plan I already have?”

Not necessarily. The purpose of a Medicare review is to find coverage that fits your needs—not to change plans every year.

Medicare Open Enrollment continues through December 7, 2026. Changes made during this period generally take effect January 1, 2027. That gives you time this November to review your options without waiting until the final days.

Start with what is working

Before comparing advertisements, write down what matters most to you:

• Keeping your doctors and preferred hospital.
• Getting your prescriptions at a manageable cost.
• Understanding what you would pay if you needed more care.
• Having coverage that works when you travel.

Your current plan is a useful starting point. Read its Annual Notice of Change, which explains changes for next year. For more detail, consult the Evidence of Coverage. A familiar plan name does not necessarily mean the costs and benefits will stay the same.

Check your prescriptions and your pharmacy together

Use an updated medication list, including the exact drug names, strengths and how often you take them.

Then compare estimated costs for the entire year—not just the monthly premium. Medicare’s Plan Finder lets you enter your medications and compare available plans in your ZIP code.

Your pharmacy also matters. A pharmacy can be in a plan’s network without offering its lowest available prescription costs. Plans with preferred pharmacies may charge less when you use those locations.

Check any coverage requirements, too. For example, a medication may require prior authorization—approval from the plan—or step therapy, which generally means trying a particular medicine before another is covered. Understanding these requirements now can help you prepare for January.

Look beyond the monthly premium

A low premium can be helpful, but it is only one part of the decision.

Review the costs of services you expect to use, such as specialist appointments, outpatient procedures and hospital care. For Medicare Advantage plans, also review the annual limit on out-of-pocket spending for covered medical services.

Confirm that your doctors participate in the specific plan you are considering. Ask about the exact plan—not simply whether the office “takes Medicare” or accepts a particular insurance company. If you spend part of the year outside Utah, check how coverage works away from home.

Staying put can be the right decision

If your plan is continuing, its changes are acceptable, and it still meets your needs, you generally do not need to re-enroll just to keep it.

CMS specifically advises that people satisfied with their continuing coverage do not need to make a change. A review that confirms your current plan remains suitable is a useful result—not a missed opportunity.

Considering a Medicare Supplement? Check before you cancel anything

Fall Open Enrollment is not an annual guaranteed opportunity to buy Medicare Supplement insurance, also called Medigap.

Outside your initial Medigap enrollment period, an insurer may use medical underwriting unless you qualify for guaranteed-issue protections or another applicable right. If you are considering leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare and a supplement, confirm your eligibility and coverage arrangements before making the change.

Make a decision you understand

The right choice should make sense when you look at your care, medications and finances together. An advertised extra benefit should support that decision—not replace the review.

Practical takeaways

• Review your coverage during November rather than waiting until December 7.
• Compare your exact medications and pharmacy—not premiums alone.
• Verify your doctors under the specific plan.
• Keeping a continuing plan can be appropriate.
• Check Medigap eligibility before leaving existing coverage.

Verification and preliminary information

Research checked November 2, 2026. No insurer-specific 2027 benefits or savings are promised. A final CMS announcement of 2027 Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles was not found during this research. Trustees Report projections are not final rates and are deliberately omitted. No preliminary dollar amounts appear in this article.

This article provides general educational information, not individualized coverage advice. Benefits, costs, networks and availability vary by plan and location. This is a solicitation for insurance; contacting Wasatch Benefits Group connects you with a licensed insurance agent/broker. We are not connected with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program for information on all your options.