Key Takeaways

• Starting your Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) review early gives you more time to understand updates, compare your options, and prepare without feeling rushed.

• Early preparation helps you avoid last minute stress, ensures you stay aware of changing healthcare needs, and supports better decision making during AEP.

Early Preparation Matters

Reviewing your Medicare coverage ahead of the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) gives you the space to think clearly, understand your options, and make confident decisions. The AEP runs from October 15 to December 7 each year, and in 2025 this period determines your benefits for the 2026 coverage year. Many people wait until late October or November to begin their review, but starting earlier brings several advantages that can make your experience much smoother.

Beginning early also helps you build a complete picture of what you currently use and what you may need in the next year. Medicare can change from one year to the next, and your health needs may also shift. Early planning allows you to explore these changes thoughtfully.

Why Should You Start Reviewing Before AEP Begins?

Starting earlier gives you more flexibility, fewer surprises, and a stronger understanding of how Medicare changes may affect you. By beginning your review in late August or September, you give yourself a comfortable window to gather information and consider your needs.

What Information Helps You Prepare Ahead Of Time?

To begin your AEP review, you should collect a few important details:

• A list of your current medications

• A record of the doctors you visit and specialists you rely on

• Notes about any recent health changes

• A summary of your healthcare use over the past year

• Any upcoming procedures you expect in the next year

Having this information ready before October means you enter AEP with clarity and organization.

Why Does Early Planning Reduce Stress?

When you start your review early, you avoid the pressure that builds during the busy weeks of AEP. Many people wait until the last two or three weeks of the enrollment period and feel rushed as they try to understand changes while also choosing between their options. Reviewing early gives you more time to ask questions, compare benefits, and think through your choices.

Key Steps To Take When Starting Early

Early preparation helps you break down your review into smaller tasks rather than completing everything at once. When you give yourself a longer timeline, your decision making becomes more manageable.

1. Review Your Current Benefits

Evaluate what you used and did not use this year. Understanding your current benefits helps you determine whether your coverage still fits your needs.

2. Update Your Healthcare Information

Your healthcare situation may have changed over the last twelve months. Take time to update your medication list, note new diagnoses, and record changes in your doctor or specialist visits.

3. Evaluate Your Budget

Even small changes in costs can affect your healthcare decisions for the next year. Review how much you currently spend on premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and out of pocket costs. Think about whether these amounts still fit your budget for 2026.

4. Read The Annual Notice Of Change Letter

Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) arrives in September. This letter outlines adjustments for the next plan year. Reviewing this letter early helps you see what will stay the same and what will change in 2026.

5. List Your Priorities For 2026

Your priorities help guide your decisions when comparing options. You should consider:

• Your budget

• Your access to preferred doctors

• Your medication needs

• Your comfort with potential changes

How Does Early Review Help You Understand Plan Adjustments?

Medicare rules and plan structures can change each year. These changes may include adjustments to deductibles, out of pocket limits, drug coverage requirements, or access to certain benefits. Beginning your review early helps you understand these updates in smaller pieces rather than trying to absorb everything at once.

Starting earlier also gives you time to check for changes such as:

• Updated rules for prescription drug coverage

• Changes in cost sharing

• Adjustments to out of network limits

• Changes in benefits offered

This understanding allows you to compare your current coverage to what you will receive in 2026.

Why Should You Take Your Time Comparing Options?

If you compare options early, you have more time to ask questions. You also give yourself time to check your medications, doctors, and anticipated medical needs against what is covered in the following year. When you begin early, you do not feel rushed into making choices without the information you need.

What Happens If You Wait Too Long?

Waiting until late November can reduce the amount of time you have to understand important changes. It may also make it harder to contact support services, ask questions, or schedule time with a licensed agent because the final weeks of AEP are always busy. Beginning early helps you avoid these complications.

How Early Is Considered Early Enough?

A good timeline for beginning your review starts in late August or early September. This gives you several weeks before the October 15 AEP start date to collect your information and understand your current coverage. Once your ANOC arrives in September, you will be prepared to review it right away.

By starting early, you finish the most time consuming part of your preparation before the busy enrollment period even opens.

What Should You Focus On Once AEP Begins?

After October 15, you can begin looking at updated benefits for 2026. Because you have already gathered your information ahead of time, you can now focus on the details that matter most to you.

You should check for:

• Updated coverage rules

• How your medications are covered

• Annual cost changes

• Provider network changes

• Any additional benefits that may help you in 2026

Completing your early review helps you approach these decisions with confidence.

Bringing Everything Together For A Smooth AEP

When you begin your review early, you gain a better understanding of your coverage before AEP begins. Starting early gives you time to collect information, ask questions, and review plan updates without stress.

Make sure you stay mindful of the October 15 to December 7 window and give yourself enough time to make thoughtful decisions about your healthcare needs for 2026.

Moving Forward With Confidence

Preparing early helps you make decisions that support your health, budget, and peace of mind. You can review changes, explore options, and choose coverage that fits your needs for the coming year. If you need help understanding any part of the process or want guidance while comparing your options, reach out to any of the licensed agents listed on this website for support.