Your Medicare Review File: What to Gather Before Annual Enrollment
Medicare Annual Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During this period, people with Medicare can review their current coverage and, if appropriate, make certain changes for the coming year. Changes generally take effect January 1, 2027.
That does not mean everyone should change plans. It means each beneficiary has an opportunity to understand what is changing, confirm that current coverage still fits, and compare alternatives if needed. A simple review file can make that process more organized.
Why create a Medicare review file?
Coverage decisions rarely depend on one number. A plan with a low premium may have different deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, pharmacy arrangements, provider networks, or coverage rules. Your needs can also change even when your plan does not.
Gathering the right information before comparing helps you focus on the facts that matter to you. Your review file can be a paper folder or a secure digital file. The format matters less than having complete, current information.
1. Start with your Annual Notice of Change
If you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or a stand-alone Medicare drug plan, review the Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC. Plans send this notice in September to explain changes that will apply in the next plan year.
Look for changes to premiums, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, covered benefits, drug coverage, pharmacies, and provider networks. Mark anything connected to services or prescriptions you use.
An ANOC is a notice of change, not a recommendation to switch. If the changes do not affect your needs—or current coverage remains appropriate—staying with your plan may be reasonable. The goal is an informed decision.
2. Update your medication list
Write down every prescription you take, including the drug name, strength, dose, and frequency. Include medications you fill only occasionally.
When 2027 plan information becomes available, check whether each medication is on the plan’s formulary and what tier applies. Review whether prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits apply. These rules can affect coverage even when a drug appears on the formulary.
Formularies and rules vary by plan and can change. If a plan denies drug coverage, Medicare provides a coverage determination and appeal process. An appeal does not guarantee approval, but beneficiaries can ask the plan to review its decision.
3. Record your preferred pharmacies
List the pharmacies you use, including mail order if applicable. A pharmacy may participate in a plan’s network without being preferred, and costs may differ by pharmacy.
Check the pharmacy relationship as well as the medication. Do not assume status will stay the same for the new plan year. Confirm it in official plan information and, when appropriate, with the plan.
4. List your doctors, facilities, and care needs
Write down the doctors, specialists, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and other facilities important to your care. If considering Medicare Advantage, check the plan’s provider network. Participation varies by plan, carrier, and service area and may change.
A provider may accept Medicare but not participate in every Medicare Advantage network. Check the plan’s current directory and contact the provider’s office when a relationship is especially important. Ask about the exact plan, not only the insurance company.
Also note care you reasonably expect in the next year, such as follow-up visits, therapy, testing, or travel needs. This helps identify questions before enrollment.
5. Compare the full cost picture
Do not stop at the monthly premium. Review the deductible, copayments, coinsurance, drug costs, and applicable annual out-of-pocket limits. Consider how often you use services and prescriptions.
For 2027, CMS finalized a $700 standard Part D deductible and a $2,400 annual Part D out-of-pocket threshold. A plan may have a lower deductible, and plan-specific premiums and cost sharing vary. CMS also announced a $41.33 national base beneficiary premium for Part D. That base amount is used in federal calculations; it is not the premium every beneficiary will pay.
As of September 15, 2026, the official sources reviewed did not yet show the full 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan landscape or final average premium information. National figures should not be presented as a quote for an individual plan.
6. Write down your questions and priorities
Create a short question list. Ask whether your medications are covered and under what rules; whether preferred pharmacies and providers participate; what you could pay when using care; whether referrals or prior authorization apply; whether coverage works during travel; and what happens if a service or drug is denied.
These questions turn a broad comparison into a personal review. They also help a licensed insurance professional understand what information you need without assuming a particular plan type is right for you.
When should you compare?
You can prepare your file now. Review finalized plan information when available for your area and use Medicare’s official Plan Compare tool for plan-specific details. Recheck information before enrolling because premiums, formularies, networks, benefits, and availability vary.
A review may confirm that current coverage still fits. It may also reveal questions worth exploring. Either outcome is useful.
A practical next step
Gather your ANOC, medication list, pharmacy preferences, provider list, current plan information, recent healthcare costs, and questions. That preparation can make Annual Enrollment easier to navigate without creating pressure to change coverage.
If you would like help reviewing Medicare information, request a consultation through the Medicare Messengers PlanEnroll process or call Medicare Messengers at 757-673-5630 to speak with a licensed insurance professional. Submitting a request does not automatically schedule an appointment; a licensed insurance professional will follow up.
Medicare and compliance disclosure
Medicare Messengers and American Family Financial Services are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is general education, not individualized insurance advice. Benefits, premiums, formularies, pharmacy and provider networks, cost sharing, eligibility, carrier participation, and plan availability vary by plan, service area, carrier, and individual circumstances.
Compliance review flag: This draft contains no carrier-specific comparisons or plan-specific benefit claims. AFFS compliance/FMO should confirm the consultation CTA, telephone presentation, and any required TPMO or carrier disclosures before publication.
Additional resources to review
Medicare Disclaimer: Medicare Messengers is a division of American Family Financial Services LLC. We are not affiliated with, connected to, or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. The information provided in this newsletter is for general educational purposes and is not individualized insurance advice. Plan availability, benefits, premiums, deductibles, copayments, formularies, pharmacy and provider networks, eligibility, and other coverage details may vary by plan, carrier, service area, and individual circumstances. For official Medicare information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048.
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