Medicare 2026

Before you pick a plan, know these AEP rules

Before you pick a plan, know these AEP rules — plain-language Medicare information for Westlake, Ohio.

WESTLAKE, Ohio — The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is open from October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any changes you make now take effect January 1, 2027. For Westlake residents, this seven-week window is the main chance each year to review your coverage, switch plans, or adjust your drug coverage without needing a special qualifying reason.

This fall brings some real reasons to look twice: the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and plans across the country continue to shift benefits and networks. Even if you liked your plan last year, it's worth a fresh look.

What you can actually do during AEP

The Annual Enrollment Period, sometimes called the fall Open Enrollment Period, lets you:

• 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.
• Add drug coverage if you have Original Medicare and don't already have it.

You are not locked in after enrolling. If you pick a Medicare Advantage plan and change your mind, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) gives you one more chance to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

Why 2027 is worth a careful look

Two changes stand out. First, the Part D out-of-pocket cap moves to $2,400 in 2027, continuing the reshaping of drug coverage that began in 2025, when the old "donut hole" was replaced with a simpler three-phase structure. Second, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your yearly drug costs into predictable monthly payments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional, and you have to opt in through your drug plan.

Higher-income enrollees should also note that IRMAA surcharges — extra amounts added to Part B and Part D premiums — start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

What Westlake residents should check

Westlake is in Cuyahoga County, where a wide range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are offered. For 2027, the county has 93 Medicare Advantage plans from 16 carriers, down from 112 plans in 2026: 75 plans continue, 18 are new, 31 are not returning, and 6 have been renamed. Because plans set their own networks, drug formularies, and cost-sharing rules — and those details can change each year — the plan that fit you in 2026 may not be the same plan on paper in 2027.

Before December 7, take a few minutes to:

1. Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your current plan mailed in September. It flags what's different for 2027 — and 31 of the continuing plans in Cuyahoga County change something in their terms. 2. Make a list of your prescriptions, doctors, and preferred pharmacies in the Westlake and greater Cleveland area. 3. Compare plans on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, which lets you enter your drugs and see how each plan handles them.

Where to get unbiased help

You don't have to sort this out alone, and you don't have to rely on a TV commercial. Two trustworthy places to start:

• Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (24/7).
• Ohio's SHIP program, called OSHIIP (Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program), offers free one-on-one counseling. Cuyahoga County residents can also reach local SHIP counselors through the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging.

These counselors do not sell plans and do not earn commissions.

Watch out for the December 7 deadline

Miss December 7 and, in most cases, you'll need to wait until the next AEP or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, if you move or lose other coverage). The safest move is to decide a few days early so you're not scrambling at the last minute.