Before You Renew Your Medicare Plan

Your Medicare plan has the same name. Your doctor has not changed. It is tempting to put the renewal packet aside and assume next year will look like this year.

Before you renew your Medicare plan, check what that familiar name will actually cover. This checklist is for Texans reviewing Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription coverage for 2027. Start with your own doctors, medicines and budget—not an advertised premium or a benefit you may never use.

1. Open the notice before you compare plans

Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) summarizes changes taking effect in January. You should receive it in September; ask your plan for a copy if it has not arrived. Mark anything that affects your care or spending. Keep the next year’s Evidence of Coverage nearby for the details. Medicare explains what to look for in the ANOC.

Make three columns on a sheet of paper: what I use, what changes, and what I need to confirm. That turns a thick packet into a manageable conversation.

2. Check your doctors and hospitals by exact plan

For Medicare Advantage, check your primary doctor, specialists and preferred hospital against the specific plan’s network for the coming year. Ask the plan and each provider’s office to confirm participation. “We accept Medicare” does not necessarily mean a provider is in that Medicare Advantage network.

If you spend part of the year outside Texas, ask how routine care works away from home. Check referral and authorization rules, too. Medicare’s plan-type comparison explains why these rules differ.

3. Price your prescriptions at your pharmacy

Prepare a current list of drug names, strengths and how often you refill them. Compare coverage and estimated costs using those medicines and the pharmacies you can realistically use. Check the plan’s drug list for coverage restrictions; ask the plan about anything unclear.

A low premium alone does not tell you the cost of your prescriptions. Compare the premium, deductible and what you pay when filling each medicine. Use Medicare Plan Finder and review Medicare’s explanation of drug costs. Our Texas Part D guide provides additional context.

4. Compare a year of care—not just the premium

Write down the costs for care you expect to use: specialist visits, tests, therapy and prescriptions. For Medicare Advantage, also review the plan’s medical out-of-pocket limit and how it applies. Drug costs have separate rules. Check limits and provider requirements for extras such as dental or hearing benefits before assigning them value.

For example, a lower monthly premium may be less attractive if the specialist you visit regularly is outside the network. The useful comparison is what each available plan would mean for your care—not a national average or someone else’s savings.

5. Know your deadline and confirm the next step

Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15–December 7. Changes made during that window generally take effect January 1. For 2027 coverage, that means reviewing your options in fall 2026. See CMS’s enrollment guidance.

If your plan continues and still meets your needs, you generally do not need to re-enroll just to keep it. Read any termination or nonrenewal notice carefully; it can require a different next step. Medicare’s yearly review checklist explains the process.

Thinking about moving from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare with Medigap? Fall Open Enrollment does not automatically guarantee that an insurer must sell you a Medigap policy. Confirm your eligibility, protections and possible underwriting before dropping coverage. Review Medicare’s Medigap buying guidance.

Bring your checklist—we’ll help you compare

Gather your change notice, doctor list, medication list and preferred pharmacies. Contact Precise Insurance for help reviewing available Texas options and the questions to confirm before making a decision. You can also start with our Medicare questions and answers.

Information reviewed September 30, 2026. Plan availability, benefits, costs and enrollment rights depend on your location and circumstances.