What is Medicare open enrollment?

You’ll start hearing a lot about the annual Medicare open enrollment period in October. It is a time when existing Medicare enrollees can change their coverage.

During this time, you can do the following things:

• Enroll in a Medicare Part D (drug coverage) plan
• Change from one Medicare Part D plan to another
• Cancel a Medicare Part D plan
• Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare
• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Enroll in a Medicare supplement plan if you want to switch from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare, Parts A (hospital) and B (medical).

The annual open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 17.

You may want to review the available plans if you are on a Medicare Advantage plan. Selections change each year, and some may better suit your current medical or financial status.