Plans change every year. It's important to check your existing coverage, even if you have no intention of changing plans, to confirm no changes have been made to your plan that could affect you financially or medically.

Perhaps in this upcoming year, your prescription medicines have changed or you are interested in better hearing coverage, dental, or vision. Assessing your Medicare coverage yearly, and making changes to adapt to your ever evolving needs is crucial to maintaining the best benefits and quality of care available.

The reason plans have the Annual Election Period (or A.E.P.) is because every plan creates a commitment to provide the care and benefits presented. October 1st is the cut off for plans to coordinate the next year's options and resources so all information and details that become public are official and finalized. January 1st is the effective date for the majority of enrollments during this time. That's also when any changes take effect to existing coverage.