Medicare 2026

Medicare AEP in Sandy: Switch, Enroll, or Compare Coverage

SANDY, Utah — With the calendar ticking toward December 7, Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is in full swing, and people across Sandy have a limited window to review, switch, or sign up for coverage that will take effect January 1, 2027. This is the one stretch of the year when nearly every Medicare decision is on the table at once — and once the deadline passes, most choices are locked in until next fall.

What the Annual Enrollment Period actually lets you do

The Annual Enrollment Period — often called AEP or the fall open enrollment — is the widest set of choices Medicare offers all year. Between October 15 and December 7, people with Medicare in Sandy can:

• Join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Drop a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.
• Join, switch, or drop a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

Whatever you pick during this window starts on January 1, 2027. If you don't make a change, your current coverage generally rolls over into the new year — but the plan itself may not look the same, which is why a yearly check-in matters.

Why 2027 is worth a closer look

A few program-level changes make this fall different from previous years.

One to note: the Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027. Once your drug spending reaches that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year. The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027, though many plans set theirs lower.

The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four. And Medicare's Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly payments across the year instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy counter. It's optional, and you have to opt in through your drug plan.

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

How to compare your options in Sandy

Sandy is in Salt Lake County, where a range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered. Plan availability, networks, and formularies are set at the county level, so two neighbors on the same street will see the same list of options.

A practical way to work through your choices:

1. Pull out your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your current plan mailed this in September. It spells out what's changing for 2027 — premium, copays, drug list, network. 2. Make a list of your prescriptions, your doctors, and any pharmacies you use. 3. Use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code and drugs, and the tool will show every plan available in Salt Lake County, along with estimated yearly costs. 4. Check that your doctors and pharmacies are still in-network for any plan you're considering.

Star Ratings — the 1-to-5 scale Medicare uses to measure plan quality — are also published each fall and can be one data point in your comparison.

What happens if you miss December 7

If December 7 passes and you didn't act, your current coverage continues into 2027 as-is. For most people, the next chance to make a change won't come until next fall.

There are a couple of exceptions:

• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31). If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan once during this window, or drop it and return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).
• Special Enrollment Periods. Life events like moving out of your plan's service area, losing employer coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help can open a personal enrollment window outside AEP.

Where to get free, unbiased help

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to go through a sales agent to get answers.

• Medicare.gov — the official site, with the Plan Finder tool.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
• Utah's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), run through the Utah Department of Insurance, offers free one-on-one counseling for Sandy residents. SHIP counselors don't sell plans — their job is just to help you understand your choices.