It’s that time of year again — Open Enrollment season! Whether you’re covered through Medicare, the Marketplace, or a Group/Employer plan, this is your opportunity to review your benefits and make sure you’re prepared for 2026.

Health insurance plan details, provider networks, and prescription coverage can change each year — and your own health or family needs may have changed too. Reviewing your options now can help ensure you have the right coverage in place for the year ahead.

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2026

Open Enrollment: October 15 – December 7, 2025
New Coverage Effective: January 1, 2026

If you’re enrolled in Medicare, this is your annual opportunity to review or change your plan options for the upcoming year. During this period, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare → Medicare Advantage (Part C)
• Switch from Medicare Advantage → Original Medicare
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) plan

Important Notes:

• You don’t need to prove insurability when switching to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• If you later switch back to a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan, you may be subject to medical underwriting, unless you qualify for a special circumstance.
• If you delay Part D enrollment and have no other creditable drug coverage, you may face a late enrollment penalty later on.

Tip: Review your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) to see if premiums, copays, or coverage have changed for 2026 — and confirm your doctors and prescriptions will still be covered.

You can compare plans online at medicare.gov/plan-compare or contact your advisor to see how health coverage costs may affect your financial plan.

Marketplace Open Enrollment for 2026 Coverage

Open Enrollment: November 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026

If you buy your own health insurance through Healthcare.gov or your state’s marketplace, open enrollment begins November 1.

• Enroll by December 15: Coverage starts January 1, 2026
• Enroll by January 15: Coverage starts February 1, 2026

After January 15, you’ll need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, marriage, birth of a child, or loss of coverage).

Remember to update your income and household information before re-enrolling — premium tax credits and subsidies can change from year to year.

Group / Employer Open Enrollment

If you’re covered under an employer plan, your company’s open enrollment period may occur between October and December.

This is typically the time to review and update multiple benefits, including:

• Health Insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• Life Insurance & Disability Coverage
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

During open enrollment, you can:

• Select a new plan (if multiple are offered)
• Add or remove dependents
• Adjust your HSA/FSA contributions

Tip: Confirm that your doctors and dentists will continue accepting your plan next year, and review any changes to your drug formulary or provider network.

Group coverage is often a convenient way to access low-cost, guaranteed coverage without medical underwriting. If you’re unsure which benefits to select, reach out to your advisor for personalized guidance.

Disclosure: This material is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, medical, or insurance advice. Decisions about coverage should be made with your insurer/Medicare and, as needed, your tax or legal advisors. This piece references 2026 coverage with 2025–2026 enrollment windows.