Most Medicare AEP mistakes are not dramatic. They are small oversights, a skipped letter or an unchecked pharmacy, that only show up in February when a prescription costs more than expected or a favorite doctor’s office says they no longer take your plan. The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, and changes take effect January 1, so this is the window to catch those things on paper rather than at the counter.
This article is educational only. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) are the official sources for plan and coverage information.
Below are the five we see most often in South Florida, along with what to do instead. None of them require you to become an expert. They just require a little attention before you sign anything, or before you decide to sign nothing at all.
Mistake 1: Ignoring the Annual Notice of Change
If you are in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan mailed an Annual Notice of Change in September. It is easy to set aside because it looks like routine paperwork. It is actually the single most useful document you will receive this fall.
The ANOC tells you what is different next year: premiums, deductibles, copays, drug coverage and sometimes network or benefit changes. Plans generally renew automatically, so if you skip the letter, you can roll into a year that looks quite different from this one without realizing it.
What to do instead: read the ANOC with your medication list beside you. Circle anything that touches a drug you take, a doctor you see or a benefit you use. If nothing important changed, great. If something did, you know exactly what to shop against.
Mistake 2: Choosing on Premium Alone
A low monthly premium is easy to compare, which is probably why so many people stop there. But the premium is only one part of what you pay in a year.
Two plans with similar premiums can treat the same drug very differently, put the same specialist visit at different copays, or carry different out-of-pocket maximums. And for most people, the Part B premium is still owed regardless of the plan premium, so a plan advertised at a low or zero premium does not mean health care costs nothing.
What to do instead: estimate a realistic full year for each option. Add premiums, the copays you expect, your drug costs at your own pharmacy and, for Medicare Advantage, think about the out-of-pocket maximum as your ceiling in a tougher year.
Mistake 3: Assuming Your Doctors and Drugs Are Still Covered
Networks and drug lists can change from one year to the next. A doctor who was in network this year might not be next year. A drug might move to a different tier, need prior authorization, or come off the formulary entirely.
This catches people who have been in the same plan for years and feel they know it. It also catches people who switch plans because a friend loves theirs, without checking that the friend’s doctors and medications are not the same as their own.
What to do instead: look up each must-keep doctor in the plan’s provider directory for the coming year, and run every medication through the plan’s drug list or the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov. When in doubt, call the doctor’s office and ask which plans they expect to accept next year. Confirm with the plan documents before you enroll.
Mistake 4: Forgetting About the Pharmacy
This one surprises people. Many Part D and Medicare Advantage drug plans have preferred pharmacies, and the same prescription can cost noticeably different amounts depending on where you fill it. Mail order can also be priced differently from a retail counter.
If you have used the same neighborhood pharmacy for years, it is worth checking how each plan on your short list treats that pharmacy before you assume your costs will be the same.
What to do instead: when you compare drug costs, enter your actual pharmacy, and if it is not preferred in a plan you like, look at whether a different pharmacy or mail order would be practical for you. Sometimes it is, and sometimes convenience matters more. Either way, you are deciding with the full picture.
Mistake 5: Letting Someone Rush You
AEP brings a lot of advertising and a lot of phone calls. Some of it is helpful. Some of it is designed to get a quick yes. A decision about your health coverage for the next year deserves a calm conversation and room to ask questions.
What to do instead: take your time within the October 15 to December 7 window. Ask any agent, including us, to explain how a plan handles your specific drugs and doctors. Ask them to put it in writing if that helps. If someone will not answer directly or pushes for a decision on the spot, it is completely fine to end the call.
A Few Smaller Things Worth Checking
Beyond the big five, a handful of smaller details trip people up:
- Travel. If you spend part of the year outside Florida, check how each plan handles care away from home, since network rules vary.
- Referrals and prior authorization. Some plans require referrals to see specialists or approval before certain services. Know what to expect.
- Extra benefits. Dental, vision or hearing extras in some Medicare Advantage plans can be useful, but read the limits rather than assuming they work like a full stand-alone policy.
- Enrollment confirmation. After you enroll, keep your confirmation number and watch for your new member card before January 1.
If You Already Made One of These Mistakes
It happens. If you enroll in something during AEP and then realize it does not fit, you can make another choice before December 7, and the last enrollment submitted during the period is generally the one that takes effect. People already in a Medicare Advantage plan also have the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 to make one change.
If you are not sure which rules apply to your situation, Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE can explain your options, and you can also read our overview of Medicare coverage in Florida for a general starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Medicare AEP mistakes?
Common ones include skipping the Annual Notice of Change, comparing plans on premium alone, assuming doctors and drugs are still covered next year, ignoring which pharmacy you use, and making a rushed decision under pressure.
Can I fix a mistake I made during AEP?
During the Annual Enrollment Period, from October 15 through December 7, you can make another enrollment choice, and the last one submitted generally takes effect January 1. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 also allows one change.
Why does my pharmacy matter when comparing plans?
Many plans have preferred pharmacies, and the cost of the same prescription can differ depending on where you fill it. Entering your actual pharmacy when you compare plans gives a more realistic estimate of your yearly drug costs.
How do I know if my doctor will be in network next year?
Check the plan’s provider directory for the coming plan year and call your doctor’s office to ask which plans they expect to accept. Confirm with the plan before you enroll, since networks can change from year to year.
Should I just stay in my current plan to avoid mistakes?
Staying can be a sound choice if your Annual Notice of Change shows nothing that affects your drugs, doctors or budget. The key is to review first, so that staying is a decision you made with current information.
Talk It Through Before December 7
If you would like a second set of eyes on your Annual Notice of Change or your short list, a licensed agent at Maher Insurance Group can walk through it with you. Call (866) 220-2834, or complete our short online questionnaire and we will reach out at a time that works for you.
Maher Insurance Group is a licensed independent insurance brokerage and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for information on all of your options.
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