AEP 2026: October 15 – December 7
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During AEP, people with Medicare can make plan changes permitted for their circumstances without a separate qualifying life event; eligibility and enrollment rules still apply. For Sampson County residents, that means checking whether your current plan still fits, since plan networks, drug formularies, and costs can all change year to year even if you don’t touch anything.
Why AEP Matters Even If You’re Happy With Your Plan
A plan that worked well for you last year doesn’t automatically stay the same. Carriers routinely adjust provider networks, drug formularies, copays, and premiums each year. If you learn about a change after AEP closes, your options to change plans before the new year may be limited, though certain Special Enrollment Periods can apply. Reviewing your Annual Notice of Change before the deadline can help you understand changes to your plan.
What to Check During Your Review
- Provider network — is your doctor, specialist, or preferred hospital still in-network for next year?
- Drug formulary — are your prescriptions still covered, and at what cost tier?
- Total costs — premium, deductible, and copays/coinsurance combined, not just the sticker premium.
- Extra benefits — dental, vision, hearing, or other extras some Medicare Advantage plans include, and whether they’ve changed.
Local AEP Education
Throughout AEP, keep an eye out for community Medicare education opportunities in the Sampson County area — informational sessions are a low-pressure way to get oriented before making any decisions, whether or not they’re ones I’m personally hosting. If you’re not sure what’s available locally this year, ask when you schedule your review and I can point you toward what I’m aware of.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
If you don’t make any changes during AEP, you’ll generally stay on your current plan into the next year — but “doing nothing” means accepting whatever changes that plan has made for the new year, sight unseen. An annual review isn’t about assuming you need to switch; it’s about making that choice deliberately instead of by default.
Schedule Your Review Before December 7
AEP has a hard deadline. Waiting until the last week of the window means less time to compare options and get questions answered. Schedule your free AEP review by phone or video today, or start with the full AEP 2026 guide for key dates and a step-by-step checklist. Sampson County residents can also read more about working with a local North Carolina Medicare agent.
Price Services Group, LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. NPN: 18530055 | Agency NPN: 20387435 | Licensed in NC, SC, GA, FL, VA, MD, MI, KS, TX, and OH.