Key Takeaways
-
Focusing on a few essential parts of your plan materials helps you make clearer decisions during AEP.
-
Prioritizing sections that affect your costs, coverage, and yearly changes keeps you informed without reading every page.
Understanding The Value Of A Quick First Scan
When your Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) materials arrive, the amount of information can feel overwhelming. Many documents are detailed, lengthy, and full of technical terms. You might not have the time or energy to read everything line by line, especially when you want to make decisions that support your health needs for 2026.
A helpful way to begin is by knowing which parts matter most. Certain sections of your plan materials give you a clearer picture of changes, costs, and coverage rules. If you start with these areas first, you can understand your options more easily and decide whether you want to keep or change your plan.
What Sections Should You Check First?
Why Should You Look At Your Annual Notice Of Change?
Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is one of the most important documents during AEP. It tells you exactly what is changing in your current plan for the upcoming year. Because Medicare plans update their benefits and rules each year, these changes can affect your routine care, medications, and out-of-pocket costs.
The ANOC summarizes changes in:
-
Coverage rules
-
Drug tiers
-
Deductibles
-
Copayments
-
Any shifts in extra benefits
By reviewing this document first, you avoid missing important updates that might impact your health needs for 2026. Even small adjustments in drug tiers or cost-sharing can affect your spending across the full calendar year.
What Makes The Summary Of Benefits Helpful?
The Summary of Benefits is designed to provide a clear, structured look at what the plan covers. It is often easier to read than the full Evidence of Coverage because it highlights the main categories of care.
Focus on the following sections:
-
Outpatient services
-
Preventive care
-
Hospital services
-
Specialist visits
-
Emergency and urgent care
These areas reflect the health services you are most likely to use. When you understand what your plan includes at a glance, it becomes easier to compare options during AEP.
Why Should You Look For Changes In Your Prescription Coverage Early?
If you take regular medications, prescription coverage can be one of the biggest factors in your plan choice. Plan materials list formulary changes and show how medications have been moved to different tiers. Even if your medications stay on the formulary, shifting to a higher tier can increase your yearly drug costs.
Review these items closely:
-
Tier assignments
-
Quantity limits
-
Prior authorization rules
-
Step therapy requirements
Identifying these updates early helps ensure that your prescriptions remain affordable throughout 2026.
Breaking Down The Cost Sections
What Costs Should You Focus On First?
Costs can vary from year to year, and even small changes add up over twelve months. While reviewing the plan materials, focus on general cost categories rather than individual prices.
Key cost areas include:
-
Deductibles
-
Copayments
-
Out-of-pocket maximums
Understanding these areas helps you estimate your potential spending for the upcoming year. For example, an increase in the out-of-pocket maximum can influence how you plan for long-term or unexpected medical needs.
How Does Your Routine Care Help You Understand Your Costs?
Your everyday health habits can guide which cost sections matter most. If you regularly visit specialists or need diagnostic tests, check how these services are listed. Plans sometimes adjust copayments or change coverage rules for common services.
Compare the current year’s costs with the upcoming year to see whether continuing with your plan makes sense for your health needs.
Evaluating Your Provider Network
Why Should You Confirm Your Doctors And Clinics First?
During AEP, provider networks may change. A doctor you rely on could stay in-network, move out of network, or change their participation level. Because this directly affects your access to care, checking your provider network early is essential.
Look for:
-
Your primary care provider
-
Any specialists you see regularly
-
Nearby clinics and hospitals
-
Coverage for your preferred pharmacy
If one of your important providers is no longer covered, you may need to explore other plan options before AEP ends on December 7.
What About Telehealth Options?
Telehealth continues to play an important role in healthcare, especially if you prefer care from home. Plans may update their coverage rules for virtual visits each year.
Check for:
-
Availability of virtual appointments
-
Cost-sharing for telehealth visits
-
Whether specialists offer remote consultations
Telehealth rules can influence how often you schedule care and how much you spend over the year.
Understanding Extra Benefits Without Getting Distracted
What Should You Look For When Reviewing Extra Benefits?
Plans often include additional services beyond basic Medicare coverage. These benefits can be helpful, but they should not distract you from the core coverage that matters most.
When reviewing extra benefits, focus on:
-
Whether the services support your actual needs
-
Whether the benefit terms have changed
-
Whether they come with limits or conditions
Extra benefits can be valuable, but they should not be the main reason for choosing a plan during AEP.
Comparing Plans When You Do Not Want To Read Everything
How Can You Narrow Down Your Options Quickly?
If you want to compare plans without going through every page, start by listing your top priorities. These may include:
-
Prescription needs
-
Doctor access
-
Costs for common services
-
Coverage for upcoming health needs
Once you know your priorities, check only the plan sections that influence those needs. This lets you make faster and clearer comparisons.
Why Should You Use The Same Sections For Every Plan You Compare?
Using the same sections across different plans helps you compare fairly. When you review the ANOC, Summary of Benefits, drug list, and cost sections for all options, you see more clearly which plans align with your expectations for 2026.
This approach also reduces confusion when switching between documents. You focus on the same categories each time, which makes the decision-making process easier.
Planning Your Final Decision Before AEP Ends
How Much Time Should You Give Yourself?
AEP runs from October 15 to December 7, giving you more than seven weeks to review your materials and make decisions. You do not need to finish everything in one sitting. Spread your review over a few days or weeks so you can think about each part without feeling rushed.
Try this structure:
-
Week 1: Review the Annual Notice of Change
-
Week 2: Review the Summary of Benefits
-
Week 3: Review prescription coverage
-
Week 4: Compare top plan options
-
Week 5 to 7: Make your final decision
This timeline keeps your review steady and manageable.
Why Should You Reach Out For Support?
You can speak with a licensed agent listed on this website to walk you through coverage details, provide comparisons, or explain terminology. Support is especially helpful if you feel unsure or want guidance as you weigh your options.
Moving Forward With Confidence
Reviewing plan materials during AEP does not have to feel overwhelming. When you start with the most important sections, the process becomes clearer and more manageable. You focus only on what affects your health, costs, and access to care for 2026.
If you still feel unsure at any point in your review, you can reach out to any of the licensed agents listed on this website for personalized guidance.
