Florida Medicare Open Enrollment
This is the one stretch of the year when anyone on Medicare can change their coverage with no qualifying event required. Whatever you change takes effect January 1. Miss December 7 and, unless a life event opens a window for you, you keep your current plan and its current benefits for all of next year.
See what you could switch to
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Most people are not worried about the premium. They are worried about losing their doctor, or finding out in January that a prescription moved to a higher tier.
No cost, no obligation. Medicare caps what an agent can be paid, and the carrier pays it whether you enroll with us or on your own. Your premium is exactly the same either way. We never sell your information, and you can ask us to stop contacting you at any time.
Open enrollment opens in
Open enrollment opens in: 43 days, 13 hours, 44 minutes, 18 seconds.
You may not have to wait until October. If you have moved, retired, lost coverage, or your Medicaid or Extra Help status changed, you may be able to switch plans today.
See if a Special Enrollment Period lets you enroll nowWhat is Medicare Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment — Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period — is the one stretch of the year when anyone with Medicare can change how they get their coverage, no qualifying event required.
It exists because plans change. Every fall, carriers adjust premiums, copays, provider networks, and drug formularies. Open Enrollment is your chance to react to those changes before they take effect in January.
It is not a renewal deadline. If your current plan still fits, you do not have to do anything. The point of the window is to give you the option to move.
All the enrollment periods, compared
| Period | Dates | Who it applies to | What can be changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) | October 15 – December 7 | Anyone with Medicare | Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1. |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP) | January 1 – March 31 | People already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan | One switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan. Cannot be used to join Medicare Advantage from Original Medicare. |
| Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) | 7 months around your 65th birthday (3 before, your birthday month, 3 after) | People newly eligible for Medicare | First-time enrollment in Part A, Part B, Medicare Advantage, and Part D. |
| General Enrollment Period (GEP) | January 1 – March 31 | People who missed their Initial Enrollment Period and have no Special Enrollment Period | Sign up for Original Medicare Part A and/or Part B for the first time, coverage starting the month after enrollment. A late enrollment penalty may apply. |
| Medigap Open Enrollment | A one-time 6-month window starting the month you are both 65+ and enrolled in Part B | People newly enrolled in Part B | Buy any Medigap policy sold in your state without medical underwriting. Outside this window, an insurer may decline you or charge more based on health. |
| Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) | Vary by qualifying event, generally starting when the event happens | People with a qualifying life event, such as a move or loss of other coverage | Join, switch, or drop plans outside the usual windows. Window length depends on the event. |
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment and the General Enrollment Period share the same January 1 – March 31 dates but do entirely different things: one lets existing Medicare Advantage members make one plan switch, while the other lets people who missed their Initial Enrollment Period sign up for Original Medicare for the first time.
What you can change during open enrollment
Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
Move your Part A and Part B benefits into a private Medicare Advantage plan, usually with drug coverage and extra benefits bundled in.
Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
Return to Original Medicare. If you do, consider adding a standalone Part D plan, and be aware that Medigap acceptance may require medical underwriting.
Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
Move to a different plan or a different carrier entirely — for example, because your doctor left the network or your copays went up.
Join, change, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan
Add drug coverage, move to a plan whose formulary covers your medications at a better tier, or drop a plan you no longer need.
Key dates, September through March
Timeline dates in order, as text.
September
ANOC letter arrives
Your plan mails the Annual Notice of Change, listing every change to premiums, copays, benefits, and the drug formulary for the coming year.
October 1
Next year's plans become public
Carriers may begin marketing next year's plans, so you can start comparing before the window opens.
October 15
Open enrollment opens
The Annual Enrollment Period begins. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
December 7
Open enrollment closes
Last day to submit a change. The most recent change you submit is the one that takes effect.
January 1
New coverage begins
Whatever you chose during Open Enrollment takes effect.
Jan 1 – Mar 31
MA Open Enrollment window
If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may make one additional switch.
What happens if you do nothing
Your plan renews automatically on January 1 — but with next year's terms, not this year's.
Benefits get added and removed. Networks change. A prescription can move to a higher tier. Doing nothing is a decision, and it is the one that surprises people in January.
Your carrier is required to send an Annual Notice of Change letter in September that spells out exactly what is changing. Read it, and compare it against what else is available before the window closes on December 7.
What to review before you switch
Four things to check, in this order. If all four still hold up, staying put is the right answer — and we will tell you so.
Are your doctors still in network?
Networks are renegotiated every year. Check each provider individually for next plan year, not just this one, and include the hospital your doctor admits to.
Are your drugs still on the formulary?
Check every medication by name and dosage. A tier change can add hundreds of dollars a year even when the premium is unchanged.
What is changing about premiums and copays?
Compare the plan premium, specialist copays, hospital cost sharing, and the annual out-of-pocket maximum against what you paid this year.
Read the ANOC letter that arrived in September
It is the one document that states plainly what your current plan is changing. If you cannot find it, call your carrier or bring your plan name to us and we will pull the details.
Have an agent call you when enrollment opens
Enrollment windows close on fixed dates, and the plan you have now renews automatically if you do nothing. A licensed agent can review your plan against the new plan year and call you in time to change it.
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm ET · Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET
Open enrollment questions
When exactly does Medicare Open Enrollment start and end?
It runs October 15 through December 7 each year. Applications must be submitted by December 7; coverage begins January 1.
Can I change my mind after I enroll?
Yes, as long as you are still inside the window. You can submit as many changes as you like before December 7, and the most recent one is the one that takes effect.
Do I have to do anything if I like my current plan?
No. Your plan renews automatically. Still read the Annual Notice of Change, because the plan you renew into may not be the plan you signed up for.
Is Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment the same thing?
No. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 to March 31 and is only for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. It allows one switch, and you cannot use it to join a Part D plan alone.
What if I miss December 7?
You generally wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Call us and we will check whether a recent life event opens one for you.
Where to go next
- Check Special Enrollment PeriodsRecently moved, lost coverage, or had another qualifying life event? You may be able to change plans today, without waiting for October.Check Special Enrollment Periods
- Compare Medicare Advantage plansSee every plan we offer with premiums, star ratings, and out-of-pocket maximums side by side.Compare Medicare Advantage plans
- Turning 65 soon?Learn how your Initial Enrollment Period works and what to do before it starts.Turning 65 soon?