From October 15 through December 7, 2026, people with Medicare can review and make changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug coverage for benefits that begin January 1, 2027. The right choice is personal: it depends on your doctors, prescriptions, budget, travel plans, and comfort with each plan’s rules. You may also keep your current coverage if it continues to fit your needs.

For South Florida retirees and those nearing retirement, Annual Enrollment Period planning is a valuable opportunity to confirm that coverage still supports the care and financial priorities you have today. Green Bee Insurance encourages a careful, side-by-side review using official Medicare plan information rather than relying on advertisements, assumptions, or last year’s details.

Step 1: Start With Your Current Coverage

Before comparing new senior health insurance options, gather the materials for the coverage you have now. Your Annual Notice of Change, Evidence of Coverage, plan ID card, premium information, and recent pharmacy receipts can help you see what is changing for 2027.

Pay close attention to changes in premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, prescription drug formularies, provider networks, pharmacy networks, and extra benefits. A plan that worked well this year may still be a good fit, but it is wise to verify the details before the Annual Enrollment Period closes.

If your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan still meets your needs after this review, you are generally not required to make a change. Medicare plan counseling is about making an informed decision, not changing coverage simply because enrollment season has arrived.

Step 2: Create a Complete Doctor and Hospital List

Make a list of every provider you see regularly or may need to see in the coming year. Include your primary care physician, cardiologist, endocrinologist, orthopedic specialist, dermatologist, therapist, dentist, eye-care provider, and any other specialists involved in your care.

Also list the hospitals, outpatient facilities, urgent care centers, and rehabilitation providers you prefer. This step is especially important for a Medicare Advantage plan comparison because plan networks can vary. Confirm that each doctor and facility is in-network for the specific plan and service area you are considering.

Ask practical questions as you review each option:

• Is my primary care doctor in the network?
• Are my important specialists and hospitals included?
• Will I need a referral before seeing a specialist?
• Are there network rules for urgent, outpatient, or follow-up care?

Do not assume that a provider accepts every plan offered by the same insurance company. Check the official provider directory and, when appropriate, confirm directly with the provider’s office.

Step 3: Build an Accurate Prescription List

For Medicare Part D help, details matter. Bring a current list of all prescriptions, including the exact medication name, dosage, frequency, quantity received each month, and whether you use a brand-name or generic drug. Include medications you take only occasionally, as well as injectables, inhalers, topical medications, and specialty drugs.

Then compare each plan’s official formulary. A formulary is the plan’s covered-drug list, and it can change from year to year. Check whether every medication is covered, which tier it falls under, and what you may pay at that tier. A drug placed on a higher tier can have a very different cost than one on a preferred generic tier.

Also look for quantity limits, step therapy requirements, and prior authorization rules. Even when a medication appears on a formulary, these requirements can affect how and when it is covered. For people managing ongoing conditions, careful prescription drug coverage review can be one of the most meaningful parts of the enrollment process.

Step 4: Compare Pharmacies and Mail-Order Options

Your pharmacy choice can affect your out-of-pocket costs. Check which pharmacies are in-network and whether the plan identifies certain locations as preferred pharmacies. A preferred pharmacy may offer lower cost sharing for some prescriptions, while a standard in-network pharmacy may have higher copays or coinsurance.

If you use mail order, verify whether the plan offers it, which medications are eligible, and how a 90-day supply is priced. Consider convenience as well as cost. A plan may look appealing on paper, but it should also work with the pharmacy access and refill routine that fits your life in Fort Lauderdale, elsewhere in South Florida, or wherever you spend time during the year.

Step 5: Look Beyond the Monthly Premium

A low monthly premium can be appealing, but it does not automatically mean the lowest total annual cost. A plan with a lower premium may have a deductible, higher copays, coinsurance for certain services, a less favorable prescription tier, or higher costs when you receive the care you expect to need.

When comparing Medicare Advantage plans and Part D options, estimate the full year as realistically as possible. Consider:

• Monthly plan premiums
• Medical and prescription deductibles
• Primary care, specialist, urgent care, and hospital copays
• Coinsurance for outpatient procedures, imaging, or higher-cost services
• Expected prescription costs based on your dosage and quantity
• The plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum for covered Medicare Advantage medical services, where applicable

Part D plans do not use the same medical out-of-pocket maximum structure as Medicare Advantage plans, so it is important to review prescription drug cost-sharing and coverage rules separately. Looking at the complete picture can support retirement budgeting and insurance decisions that feel more manageable throughout the year.

Step 6: Match Coverage Rules to Your Care Needs

Each plan has rules that can shape your experience with care. Review whether referrals are required, how prior authorization works, whether specialist visits need approval, and what restrictions may apply to certain tests, procedures, treatments, or medications.

This is particularly important for beneficiaries with chronic conditions, planned procedures, or frequent specialist care. Medicare support for chronic illness should account for the everyday realities of appointments, prescriptions, monitoring, and coordination among providers—not just the premium shown in a plan summary.

Use official Medicare plan documents to compare these rules. If a benefit or requirement is unclear, ask questions before enrolling rather than discovering a limitation after your coverage takes effect.

Step 7: Consider Travel and Access Away From Home

Many Florida retirees travel, visit family, or spend time in another state. If that describes you, examine how each option handles routine care, urgent care, emergency services, and follow-up treatment away from home. Network-based Medicare Advantage coverage may work differently outside the plan’s local service area, so understand the plan’s rules before making a decision.

Think through your actual travel habits. A brief vacation raises different questions than spending several months in another location. Green Bee Insurance can help you identify the questions to ask so that your Medicare coverage aligns with the way you live.

Step 8: Evaluate Extra Benefits Carefully

Some Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits that may include dental, vision, hearing, fitness, transportation, over-the-counter allowances, or other services. These benefits can be helpful, but they should be evaluated alongside the plan’s provider network, prescription coverage, cost-sharing, and care-management rules.

Review the official benefit details, including benefit limits, participating providers, allowances, frequencies, and any restrictions. An extra benefit is most valuable when it is accessible and relevant to your actual needs.

Step 9: Use Official Information and Document Your Comparison

For Medicare open enrollment help, use official plan materials, including Medicare.gov, plan formularies, provider directories, Evidence of Coverage documents, Annual Notice of Change materials, and plan benefit summaries. Keep notes for each option so you can compare the same items consistently.

A simple worksheet can include your providers, hospitals, medications, pharmacy preferences, premium, deductible, expected copays or coinsurance, medical out-of-pocket limit where applicable, travel considerations, referrals, prior authorization requirements, and extra benefits. This helps turn a large amount of information into a clearer decision.

Step 10: Schedule a Structured Review Before December 7

Do not wait until the final days of the Annual Enrollment Period to begin. Give yourself time to review official information, ask questions, and consider how coverage fits within your broader South Florida retirement planning priorities.

Green Bee Insurance provides Medicare guidance services designed to help people in and approaching retirement understand their choices with greater clarity. Bring your provider list, hospital preferences, prescription list with dosage and quantity, pharmacy preferences, and current plan documents to a structured review at our Fort Lauderdale office or virtually anywhere across Florida. We can help you organize the comparison so you can make a decision that reflects your personal health-care needs, budget, and retirement goals.

FAQ

When is the 2026 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?

The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes made during this period generally take effect on January 1, 2027.

Do I have to change my Medicare Advantage or Part D plan every year?

No. If your current plan still fits your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and care preferences, you may keep it. Reviewing the plan each year is still important because benefits, costs, formularies, and networks can change.

Why should I check my medications every year?

Part D formularies, medication tiers, pharmacy networks, cost-sharing, and coverage requirements can change. Review each medication’s coverage, dosage, quantity limits, and any prior authorization or step therapy rules using official plan information.

Does the lowest premium always mean the lowest Medicare cost?

No. Your total annual cost can also include deductibles, copays, coinsurance, prescription expenses, and the services you expect to use. A complete comparison looks beyond the monthly premium.

Can Green Bee Insurance help me compare Medicare options if I do not live in Fort Lauderdale?

Yes. Green Bee Insurance offers Medicare guidance in Fort Lauderdale and can conduct structured virtual reviews for individuals throughout Florida. Bringing complete provider and prescription information helps make the review more useful.