Medicare 2026

Glendale Medicare checklist: what to review and switch before Dec. 7

GLENDALE, Calif. — The window to make most Medicare changes for 2027 is open now and closes Dec. 7. If you live in Glendale, the next few weeks are your chance to compare, switch, or simply confirm that the coverage you already have still fits — before new premiums, drug lists, and pharmacy networks take effect on January 1.

This is the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP. It runs every year from October 15 through December 7, and it is the main time Medicare beneficiaries can change how they get their coverage. A few program updates land in 2027, so even people who liked their plan this year have real reasons to take a fresh look.

What you can actually do between now and Dec. 7

During AEP, you have more flexibility than at any other time of year. You can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, drop one, or switch to a different one.

Whatever you choose takes effect January 1, 2027. You don't need to cancel your old plan separately — enrolling in a new one usually handles that for you.

One thing AEP does not automatically do: it does not guarantee you can buy or switch a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. In California, Medigap has its own rules, including a yearly "birthday rule" window that lets many enrollees switch to a plan of equal or lesser benefits around their birthday.

Why 2027 is worth a second look

Two changes stand out for next year, and both affect people who take prescription drugs.

First, the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that number, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year. Second, the Part D deductible cannot be higher than $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026. The old coverage gap — the "donut hole" — was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four.

There is also the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying a large amount at the pharmacy counter. It doesn't lower what you owe, but it can smooth out the timing.

Higher earners should also check the income thresholds. In 2026, IRMAA surcharges — extra amounts added to Part B and Part D premiums — begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Read your Annual Notice of Change

By now, your current plan should have sent you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), usually a booklet that arrived in September. It spells out what is different for 2027: premium, deductible, drug tiers, pharmacy network, and provider network.

If you tossed it, you can usually find it in your plan's member portal or by calling the number on your ID card. Reading this document is the single most useful thing you can do before December 7. A plan that worked well in 2026 may look different in 2027, especially on the drug side. In Los Angeles County, 38 continuing Medicare Advantage plans are changing something in their terms for 2027, and 23 plans are not returning — including those from Central Health Medicare Plan.

Check your doctors, your drugs, and your pharmacy

For Glendale residents, three quick checks tend to catch most surprises:

• Doctors and hospitals. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, confirm your primary care doctor and any specialists are still in-network for 2027. Networks in Los Angeles County can shift year to year.
• Prescriptions. Look up each medication on the plan's 2027 formulary. Tiers and prior-authorization rules can change even when the drug name stays the same.
• Pharmacy. "Preferred" pharmacies often cost less than "standard" ones under the same plan.

Glendale is in Los Angeles County, where 101 Medicare Advantage plans from 20 carriers are offered for 2027, down from 121 plans and 21 carriers in 2026. That's still a wide range of choices, but it also means comparing options one by one is worth the time.

If you miss December 7

You still have a backup. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31. During that window, if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and add a stand-alone Part D plan). It's a one-change window, not a full do-over — so AEP is still the better time to shop.

People with certain life events — moving, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help — may also get a Special Enrollment Period outside these dates.

Where to get unbiased help

For personalized answers, use official sources:

• Medicare.gov has the Plan Finder tool, which lets you enter your drugs and ZIP code to compare plans side by side.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is open 24/7.
• California's SHIP — called HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) — offers free, one-on-one counseling. Los Angeles County residents can reach HICAP at 1-800-824-0780.