Can I leave my Medicare coverage unchanged during open enrollment?

If I am satisfied with my current Medicare coverage do I need to make any changes during Medicare s open enrollment period

Open enrollment (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) gives you an opportunity every year to compare coverage options in Medicare and, if you want, switch to another. If you don’t switch to another plan, your current coverage will continue into next year — without any need to inform Medicare or your plan. However, your current plan may have different costs and benefits next year. Every private plan in Medicare (whether a Medicare Advantage health plan, such as an HMO or PPO, or a Part D prescription drug plan) has the right to change its premiums, deductibles, copays and coverage each calendar year, and most change at least some of these. So — to avoid sticker shock in January — it’s important to read a letter called the Annual Notice of Change that your plan must send you in September to inform you of any changes for the coming year. You can use this, during open enrollment, as a basis of comparison with other plans that will be available to you next year.

Search Medicare Q& A

Find the content you are looking for by entering in search terms below.

MEDICARE MADE EASY

Today' s Topics

Select All

Latest Health News

Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.