With the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) behind us, you may be wondering—what happens next? From January 1 to March 31, Medicare beneficiaries enter what’s known as the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP)—a time that often flies under the radar but can be crucial for your healthcare coverage.
During this period, individuals already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan can:
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Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan.
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Disenroll from Medicare Advantage entirely and return to Original Medicare.
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Optionally add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to help with out-of-pocket costs not covered by Original Medicare.
It’s important to note that this OEP is specific to Medicare Advantage and separate from the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) and the Open Enrollment Period for people who are interested in getting their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
Confused about all of the different enrollment periods and deadlines? Check out our article ‘Medicare Enrollment Periods Explained’ to learn more.
Why Do People Disenroll?
There are many valid reasons people consider leaving their Medicare Advantage plan. According to the Medicare Rights Center, common causes include:
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Limited access to preferred healthcare providers.
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Unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
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Denials for coverage or prescriptions.
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Confusing or misleading plan information during enrollment.
If you’ve experienced any of these issues—or if your needs or priorities have changed—it might be time to reevaluate your coverage. Whether that means returning to Original Medicare or adding supplemental coverage, doing plenty of research and working with a knowledgeable insurance agent can help you understand your best options.
No Changes? That’s Okay Too.
If you’ve received your insurance card, visited your doctor, and filled your prescriptions without a hitch, there may be no need to make changes this year. Still, Open Enrollment is a good reminder to periodically assess all aspects of your coverage—not just your health insurance. It’s always best practice, as a consumer, to revisit all of your insurance plans on a yearly basis and make sure they’re still the best fit for you and your needs. Otherwise, you could end up paying a lot of money for coverage you don’t actually need–or worse, doesn’t cover you when you need it most.
One More Thing to Consider: Life Insurance
While health coverage protects your well-being today, life insurance helps safeguard your family’s financial future. Many seniors assume they’re too old to get life insurance, but there are still affordable and accessible policies designed specifically for older adults.
If you’re unsure whether your current coverage is sufficient—or if you’ve never looked into life insurance—it might be worth having a conversation. A licensed insurance professional can help you compare top-rated carriers, walk you through your options, and even review any existing policies to ensure they still fit your needs.
Life Insurance Questions?
We hope that this information on life insurance and final expense planning is useful to you.
If you’d like to learn how we can help you plan your retirement, call Empower Brokerage at (888) 539-1633 to speak to one of our Life and Annuity experts or leave a comment down below.
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Article updated 7/1/25.