Guide
Medicare Open Enrollment: Gather Your Paperwork First
Medicare's Open Enrollment runs every year from October 15 to December 7, and changes you make take effect January 1. It is a good moment to sit down with a parent or with your own records, because most of what you need to compare plans is paperwork you probably keep in five different places.
What to gather before you compare plans
- The red, white and blue Medicare card, and any Medicare Advantage or Part D plan card.
- The current plan's Annual Notice of Change, which arrives by mail in the fall and shows what will change next year.
- A current medication list with doses and the pharmacy you use. Drug lists are the most common reason a plan stops being a good fit.
- A list of doctors, specialists and hospitals, and whether each is in the plan's network.
- Any supplemental or retiree coverage, and the Social Security or railroad retirement number tied to benefits (write where the card is, not the number).
- Last year's major health costs, so you can compare premiums against what you actually used.
Questions worth asking
- Are all of my current prescriptions covered, and at what cost?
- Are my doctors and local hospital in the network?
- What is the yearly out-of-pocket limit?
- If this is for a parent, who is authorized to talk to the plan on their behalf?
If you help a parent, a signed authorization lets you speak to the plan or to Medicare directly. Without one, representatives are generally not allowed to discuss the account with you.
Keep the decision where the family can find it
After you choose, put the new plan card, plan documents and the pharmacy details in the emergency binder next to the medication list. If a parent lands in the hospital in February, the first questions will be about insurance and medications, and the answers should not be in a drawer nobody can name.
One place for all of it
The Caregiver edition of The Paper Trail has sections for medications, doctors, insurance and who can speak for your parent. The free Emergency Binder Lite covers the five pages a family would need first.
Frequently asked questions
When is Medicare Open Enrollment?
Every year from October 15 to December 7. Changes you make take effect January 1.
What is the Annual Notice of Change?
A notice your current plan sends each fall that shows what will change next year in coverage, costs and networks.
What should I bring to compare plans?
Your Medicare and plan cards, the Annual Notice of Change, a current medication list with your pharmacy, and a list of your doctors and hospitals.
Can I help a parent choose a plan?
Usually you need their permission. A signed authorization lets you speak to the plan or to Medicare on their behalf.
Where can I get unbiased help?
Medicare.gov and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). This page helps you get organized and is not insurance advice.
AuraByRobbie sells The Paper Trail on Etsy. This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice.