Florida Medicare Open Enrollment — Annual Election Period 2026 Guide

By the Florida Plan Finder Team · Licensed Florida Health Insurance Producer · NPN #21249133 · Last Updated: May 2026

Every fall, Florida's 4.7 million Medicare beneficiaries face the same season of mailbox stuffers, TV ads, and urgent phone calls urging them to "review their Medicare coverage." The noise is real, but so is the opportunity. Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is the primary window when you can make meaningful changes to your coverage — and the decisions you make during this 54-day window will affect your healthcare costs for an entire year.

This guide cuts through the confusion. We'll walk you through exactly what you can change, what you can't, how Florida's Medicare Open Enrollment Period differs from AEP, and what Special Enrollment Periods exist if your circumstances change mid-year. We'll also cover Florida-specific resources that can make the comparison process far less overwhelming.

What Is Medicare Open Enrollment?

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period — commonly called AEP or "open enrollment" — runs from October 15 through December 7 every year. It is the main window during which Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their coverage that take effect on January 1 of the following year.

It is important to distinguish Medicare open enrollment from ACA (Affordable Care Act) open enrollment, which runs November 1 – January 15 and applies to marketplace health insurance plans. If you are on Medicare, you are not eligible for marketplace plans, and ACA open enrollment does not apply to you.

During AEP, every Medicare beneficiary in Florida — whether enrolled in Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or a standalone Part D drug plan — has the ability to review and revise their coverage. Most changes during this window take effect January 1, giving you a full year of the coverage you selected.

What You Can Change During AEP

The Annual Enrollment Period allows a broad range of coverage changes. Here is what Florida Medicare beneficiaries can do during October 15 – December 7:

The Medigap exception is one of the most misunderstood rules in Medicare. Many beneficiaries assume AEP lets them freely switch Medigap plans, but it does not. Medigap plans operate under separate rules: you can apply for a new Medigap policy at any time of year, but outside of guaranteed issue periods, Florida insurers can deny you coverage or charge higher premiums based on your health history. The only federally guaranteed Medigap open enrollment window is the six-month period that begins when you turn 65 and enroll in Part B for the first time.

Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) — January 1–March 31

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. It is a more limited window than AEP, with important restrictions Florida beneficiaries should understand:

• Who can use OEP: Only beneficiaries already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1.
• What you can do: Switch from your current MA plan to a different MA plan, or drop your MA plan and return to Original Medicare (and enroll in a Part D plan).
• What you cannot do: If you are in Original Medicare on January 1, you cannot use OEP to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time. You must wait for AEP or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• Medigap during OEP: Returning to Original Medicare during OEP does not automatically grant you Medigap guaranteed issue rights (with limited exceptions — see the switching guide for details).

OEP changes typically take effect the first day of the month after your enrollment request is processed. So a change made in February would generally take effect March 1.

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)

Special Enrollment Periods allow Medicare beneficiaries to make changes outside of AEP and OEP when specific qualifying life events occur. Florida residents may qualify for an SEP in the following situations:

• Moving out of your plan's service area — If you relocate to a Florida county not covered by your current MA plan, or leave Florida entirely, you qualify for an SEP to select new coverage.
• Plan loses Medicare contract — If your Medicare Advantage plan loses its Medicare contract or stops serving your area, you receive an SEP to enroll elsewhere.
• Losing employer or union coverage — If you had creditable employer retiree coverage and lose it, you can join a Medicare drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan.
• Qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help (LIS) — Gaining eligibility for Medicaid or the Part D Low Income Subsidy grants a monthly SEP to change plans.
• Moving to or from a long-term care facility — Residents entering or leaving a skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, or similar institution receive an SEP.
• Five-Star Special Enrollment Period — Medicare beneficiaries can switch to a 5-star rated Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan once per year, at any time of year, using this SEP. Not all Florida counties will have a 5-star plan in a given year.

How to Compare Plans During Florida Medicare AEP

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the official tool for comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans during open enrollment. Here is how to get the most out of it:

What to Gather Before You Start

• Your Medicare number (on your red, white, and blue Medicare card)
• A complete list of your current prescription medications and dosages
• The names of your preferred doctors and any specialists you see regularly
• Your current plan name and plan number (on your insurance card)
• Your preferred pharmacy name and location

Key Things to Verify Before Switching

• Doctor network: Confirm your primary care physician and any specialists are in-network for the new plan. HMO plans in Florida require you to stay in-network for most services.
• Drug formulary: Verify all your medications are on the new plan's formulary and check their tier placement, which affects your copays.
• Pharmacy network: Confirm your preferred pharmacy is in the plan's network and whether it qualifies as a preferred pharmacy with lower cost-sharing.
• Out-of-pocket maximum: Compare the annual MOOP (Maximum Out-of-Pocket) across plans — this is your worst-case annual exposure.

Florida's SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling through trained volunteers across all 67 counties. SHINE counselors do not sell insurance and have no financial interest in the plans they discuss — they are an excellent resource for objective plan comparisons.

Florida-Specific AEP Resources

Florida offers more Medicare counseling resources than most states, which makes sense given that Florida has one of the highest concentrations of Medicare beneficiaries in the country. These resources are all free:

• SHINE Helpline: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) — Florida's statewide Medicare counseling line, staffed by trained volunteers Monday through Friday.
• Area Agencies on Aging: Florida has 11 Area Agencies on Aging that coordinate local SHINE services and can connect you with in-person counseling appointments. Find your local AAA at elderaffairs.org.
• Public Library Workshops: Many Florida county library systems host free Medicare open enrollment workshops in October and November, often in partnership with local SHINE chapters.
• 1-800-MEDICARE: The federal helpline (1-800-633-4227) operates 24/7 and can answer general Medicare questions and help you understand your plan options.
• Licensed Insurance Agents: A licensed Florida Medicare insurance agent can compare plan options across carriers at no cost to you — agents are compensated by insurance companies, not by beneficiaries.

Key Deadlines and Coverage Dates

Timing also matters within AEP itself. If you enroll in a new plan on December 7 (the last day of AEP), your coverage still takes effect January 1 — the same as if you had enrolled on October 15. However, enrolling earlier gives you more time to confirm your doctors and pharmacy network before your new coverage begins.

Frequently Asked Questions