August is a good time to start thinking about Medicare Open Enrollment. While October may still feel a little ways off, taking time now to review your current coverage can make the process much easier when enrollment season arrives.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During this period, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare health and prescription drug coverage for 2027. Any changes made during Open Enrollment generally take effect January 1, 2027.
You don’t have to wait until October to start preparing. Here are seven things to review now.
- Look at Your Current Medicare Coverage
Start with the coverage you have today.
Think about how your current Medicare plan has worked for you over the past year. Have your healthcare needs changed? Are you seeing different doctors? Have you started taking new prescriptions?
Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, reviewing it each year can help you determine whether it continues to fit your needs.
Medicare recommends reviewing your health and drug coverage each year because costs, benefits and personal healthcare needs can change.
- Make a List of Your Current Prescriptions
Take a few minutes to create an up-to-date list of the prescription medications you take.
Include the medication name, dosage and how often you take it. You may also want to write down the pharmacy you typically use.
Prescription coverage can vary between Medicare plans, so having an accurate medication list will be helpful when comparing your options during Open Enrollment.
- Review Your Doctors and Healthcare Providers
Your preferred doctors and healthcare providers are another important part of your Medicare review.
Make a list of the doctors, specialists and healthcare facilities you visit regularly. If you’re considering a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll want to review the plan’s provider network to see whether your preferred providers participate.
A change in doctors, specialists or healthcare needs may be a good reason to take a closer look at your Medicare options.
- Watch for Your Annual Notice of Change
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare plan, keep an eye on your mailbox this fall.
Your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each September. This document explains changes to your plan’s coverage, costs and other details that will take effect in January.
When you receive it, don’t simply set it aside. Take some time to read through the changes and consider how they could affect you.
Your plan may also send an Evidence of Coverage (EOC) in September. This document provides additional details about what your plan covers and what you pay.
- Think About Your Healthcare Needs for the Coming Year
Your Medicare coverage should reflect more than what you needed last year.
Have you started seeing a new specialist? Are you expecting a procedure? Have your prescriptions changed? Are there certain healthcare benefits that have become more important to you?
You don’t need to predict everything that will happen, but thinking about your expected healthcare needs can give you useful questions to consider when reviewing your coverage.
- Review Your Medicare Costs
Cost is another important part of an annual Medicare review.
Look beyond just the monthly premium. Depending on your coverage, you may also have deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and prescription drug costs.
Compare the costs you actually experienced this year with the costs and changes listed in your plan’s information for the upcoming year.
Looking at the complete picture can help you better understand how your Medicare coverage fits into your overall healthcare budget.
- Put the Important Medicare Dates on Your Calendar
It’s easy for October to sneak up on you, so mark the important dates now.
October 1, 2026: Medicare recommends getting ready for Open Enrollment by reviewing information about changes to your current coverage and previewing plan options for the upcoming year.
October 15, 2026: Medicare Open Enrollment begins.
December 7, 2026: Medicare Open Enrollment ends. In most cases, this is the deadline for making changes to your Medicare health or drug coverage for the following year.
January 1, 2027: Coverage begins for changes made during Open Enrollment.
Start Your Medicare Review Before October
Medicare Open Enrollment doesn’t have to be a last-minute decision. Starting in August gives you time to gather your prescriptions, review your current coverage, identify your healthcare providers and watch for important plan documents arriving in the fall.
When October 15 arrives, you’ll already have the information you need to take a closer look at your Medicare options.
If you have questions about Medicare coverage in Nebraska, our team is here to help you understand your options and navigate the annual review process.
A little preparation in August can make your Medicare review much easier this fall.
Medicare plan availability, benefits, costs and coverage can vary. For the most current Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov.