Seniors: Don't Throw Away This Envelope — It Could Cost You All Year

There's an envelope in your mail this month that decides what you pay for Medicare all next year — and most people throw it away. It's called the Annual Notice of Change, your plan had to send it by September 30, and if you do nothing, every change in it becomes yours on January 1. Here are the three checks that take about half an hour, the one choice in the October 15 – December 7 window that can't be undone, and your second chance from January 1 to March 31. FREE HELP (nobody here sells insurance): • SHIP — free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state: shiphelp.org • 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) • Medicare Plan Finder: medicare.gov/plan-compare CHAPTERS 0:00 The window that opens October 15 1:28 What you can change 2:17 What happens if you do nothing 3:10 Check 1: your prescriptions 4:25 Check 2: your doctors 5:10 Check 3: the whole year's cost 6:16 The one choice that can't be undone 8:20 Your second chance: Jan 1 – Mar 31 8:57 October 14 and your Part B premium 9:28 Phone calls and free help 10:27 Your 5-step checklist SOURCES Open enrollment dates and what you can change: Medicare.gov — medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment 7 in 10 don't compare; Medigap rules after Medicare Advantage; the January–March window: KFF — kff.org 2027 Part D deductible ($700) and out-of-pocket cap ($2,400): CMS Contract Year 2027 Rate Announcement (April 2026) 2027 Part B premium: a Medicare Trustees projection — the official figure is announced in the fall Free counseling: shiphelp.org ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Every video is researched from official Medicare and Social Security rules and the reporting listed above. This channel is not affiliated with Medicare, Social Security, CMS or any insurance company, and does not sell insurance. General information only, not advice for your personal situation.