Medicare 2026

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period in Bonita Springs

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — With the calendar ticking toward December, Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is in full swing across Southwest Florida, and Bonita Springs residents have until December 7 to make changes that take effect January 1, 2027. This is the once-a-year window when you can review your coverage, switch plans, or make sure your current setup still fits — and skipping it usually means waiting another full year.

What you can actually do between now and December 7

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is broader than many people realize. According to CMS, during this window 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, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
• Sign up for Part D for the first time (a late-enrollment penalty may apply if you delayed without other creditable coverage).

Whatever change you make by December 7 takes effect January 1, 2027. If you make more than one change during the window, the last one on file wins.

Why this year's review matters more than usual

Even if you like your current coverage, 2027 brings real changes worth checking against your situation:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,100. Once your covered drug spending hits that amount, you pay $0 for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible capped at $615. Individual plans can set a lower deductible, but not higher.
• The old "donut hole" is gone. As of 2025, Part D uses three simpler phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA thresholds. Higher-income beneficiaries pay surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums; for 2026, those surcharges start above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Formularies (the list of drugs a plan covers), pharmacy networks, and provider networks can also change from year to year. That is why the Annual Notice of Change your plan mailed in September is worth pulling back out.

A quick word on Bonita Springs and Lee County

Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. Bonita Springs is in Lee County, so the Medicare Advantage and Part D plan options you see on Medicare.gov are the ones offered countywide. When you use the Plan Finder, enter your ZIP code and it will show you every plan available in your area — along with your specific drugs, pharmacies, and doctors — so you can compare on the details that actually affect you.

How to compare plans without getting overwhelmed

A simple approach that works for most people:

1. Gather your list of prescriptions, including doses and how often you fill them. 2. List the doctors, specialists, and hospitals you want to keep using. 3. Go to Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, enter your ZIP and drugs, and let it estimate your total yearly costs — not just the premium. 4. Check the Star Ratings. CMS rates plans on a 1-to-5 scale for quality and member experience. Ratings are one input, not the whole answer. 5. Call for help if you need it. Personalized guidance is free from the sources below.

What if you miss December 7?

If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31. During those three months you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and add a stand-alone Part D plan). If you're on Original Medicare and miss AEP, though, your options to change Part D coverage are much more limited until next October — unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, if you move out of your plan's service area or lose other coverage).

Where to get free, unbiased help

• Medicare.gov — the official Plan Finder and enrollment tool.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
• Florida SHINE — Florida's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free, one-on-one Medicare counseling. Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 to be connected with a Lee County volunteer.