What Is the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)?
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. Changes made during AEP take effect January 1 of the following year.
During AEP, Florida seniors can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
- Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Enroll in, drop, or switch Medicare Part D drug plans
What AEP Does NOT Apply To: Medigap
Important: The Annual Enrollment Period does not apply to Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurance. Medigap is not an annual enrollment product. You can apply for a new Medigap plan at any time — but outside your Open Enrollment Period, you'll generally face medical underwriting in Florida.
AEP is the time to review your Part D drug plan. Medigap reviews should happen separately, around your birthday using Florida's birthday rule or whenever you have a qualifying event.
How to Review Your Part D Plan Each AEP
Step-by-step for Florida seniors each October:
- Get your Annual Notice of Change from your current Part D plan. This arrives by September 30 and lists any changes to premiums, deductibles, or drug coverage effective January 1.
- Update your medication list. Any new drugs prescribed in the past year? Confirm they're still covered.
- Compare at medicare.gov/plan-compare. Enter your ZIP code and medications to see all available Florida plans and their costs for your specific drugs.
- Check pharmacy preferences. Make sure your preferred Florida pharmacy is in-network (and preferred-tier) for any plan you're considering.
- Enroll by December 7. Switching is simple — enrolling in a new plan automatically cancels your old one.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1 – Mar 31)
In addition to the main AEP, Medicare Advantage enrollees have an additional window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) from January 1 through March 31.
During OEP, if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can:
- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan
- Switch back to Original Medicare (and add a Medigap plan, subject to underwriting)
You cannot use OEP to switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or to make Part D changes if you're on Original Medicare.