Question: I researched my options for insurance for 2026 and have enrolled. What do I do about my own plan?

Answer: It depends.

That is almost always my answer.

But I also want to remind everyone; That there are many of you who have extra time this year to change your coverage, because your plan has been discontinued. So, if your coverage has been cancelled be sure to make a decision before the end of December, to get new coverage for the new year!

Now back to your question! Let’s look at some of the possibilities.

This Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 to Dec 7) is tied to the Medicare Part D Benefit. If your insurance is Medicare + Medicare Supplement + Part D Stand Alone Drug Plan, which we often call Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). The answer is simple, you enroll in your Prescription Drug Plan of choice for 2026 and that enrollment automatically cancels your old plan as of 12-31-25 at midnight. Your new 2026 plan will begin at 12:01 on 1-1-26. This enrollment process can be done on the www.medicare.gov website or it can be done on your plan’s company website, or with an insurance broker, or it can be done on the phone. No matter how you do it, the new enrollment cancels your old plan.

If you currently have a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO, PPO, or HMO-POS) with or without prescription drug coverage, when you enroll in your new plan for 1-1-26, that automatically cancels your old plan as of 12-31-25 at midnight. Your new 2026 plan will begin at 12:01 on 1-1-26. This enrollment process can be done on the www.medicare.gov website or it can be done on your new plan’s company website, with an insurance broker or it can be done on the phone. No matter how you do it, the new enrollment cancels your old plan.

If you have a PFFS plan (there are only two), it does not include drug coverage, so enrolling in an alternative PDP plan will not change that PFFS plan in any way, because your drug coverage is separate from your PFFS plan. If you have a PFFS and enroll into an alternative Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO, PPO, or HMO-POS) this enrollment will cancel that PFFS plan and the PDP you had in addition to the PFFS plan.

If you are talking about your Medicare Supplement Plan the answer is different. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans do not include prescription drug coverage. In New York State you can change this part of your insurance anytime you wish. If you are changing your Medigap Plan, you choose the insurance company you want, the plan you want and you contact that company via telephone or website. Then you enroll in the plan for the first of the month that you want coverage to begin, Dec, Jan, Apr, Aug. Once you have a confirmation of your enrollment, either the plan information and insurance card or a verbal confirmation over the phone, you call your old Medigap Plan company and cancel that coverage for the same date that your new coverage begins (always the first of the month). Some Medigap insurance companies will take a verbal cancellation, some require a written cancellation, and some have a special form you need to use.

Changing your Medicare Supplement plan does not cancel or change your prescription drug coverage. So, you need to take the steps listed above to change your prescription drug coverage.

It is also very important to understand that if you have a Medigap plan and you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan you must cancel your Medigap Plan. Otherwise, you will be paying for two types of insurance that do not work together. Your Medigap plan will never be secondary to anything other than Original Medicare.

If you are moving from a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage to a Medigap and a PDP plan, enrolling in the PDP will cancel the Medicare Advantage Plan. You will then enroll into the Medigap plan with the plan and company you wish.

If you are moving from a Medigap and a PDP to a Medicare Advantage Plan, the enrollment into the Medicare Advantage Plan will end the PDP. As stated before you must contact the Medigap insurance company to cancel that plan.

Happy Insurance Season!

Janell Sluga is a Geriatric Care Manager helping seniors in our community access services and insurance. To reach her, please email editorial@post-journal.com.