Prepare for Open Enrollment 2026
It’s that time of year again. No, not the arrival of the Great Pumpkin, but Open Enrollment for Medicare and Connect for Health Colorado. Medicare Open Enrollment occurs annually from October 15 - December 7 and Connect for Health Open Enrollment occurs from November 1 - January 15. Whatever your health insurance needs may be, Benefits in Action is here to help. Our experienced Medicare and Connect for Health navigators can make the open enrollment process easy.
Medicare Open Enrollment is the time of year when you can make changes to your
Medicare plans. During this period, you can join a new Medicare advantage plan or sign up for a Medicare prescription drug plan. You can also change advantage plans or prescription drug plans, or you can switch between Medicare Parts A and B and a Medicare advantage plan, and vice versa. However, you can’t sign up for Medicare for the first time unless you happen to be in your Initial Enrollment Period. Signing up for Medicare for the first time is a different process that occurs either the three months before and after you turn 65 or between January 1 and March 31.
If you already have Medicare, you may be wondering why Open Enrollment is so important. Even if you already have Medicare, reviewing or changing your coverage during open enrollment is important because Medicare plans change from year to year and your plan this year might not be the best plan for you next year. For example, your copays and deductibles in your current plan may have changed such that a different plan is a better fit for you. Or, you may have a new prescription or doctor that is not covered by your current plan, but it would be covered under a new plan.
Connect for Health Open Enrollment is when you can change your marketplace plan or enroll in a marketplace plan for the first time without the need for a qualifying life event such as the birth of a child or loss of a job. This year, unlike prior years, current Connect for Health customers will be automatically re-enrolled in their current plan unless their plan is no longer provided in Colorado, in which case they will be enrolled in a similar plan. That means if you want to make any changes to your coverage, you must act fast. Similarly to Medicare, plans do change from year to year, so it is prudent to review those changes before the deadline to make sure they still fit your health care needs rather than just accepting reenrollment.
If you are wondering how to choose a plan that fits your needs, here are some tips. First, don’t just look at the plans’ premiums. Instead, look at the whole plan. For example, see whether your preferred physician is in or out of the plan’s network. You should also look at your medications before deciding on a plan, so you know whether the plan covers the medications you are taking. You should also look at the differences in co-pays between plans. A plan with lower premiums may have higher co-pays that negate the advantage of the lower premium.
Benefits in Action is a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) site and a Connect for Health Assistance Site, so if you are struggling to decide on a plan that fits you, reach out to us by calling 720-221-8354 for a Medicare appointment, or visiting our Connect for Health scheduler. Our Medicare and Connect for Health navigators are well trained and know the ins and outs of the programs. Not many organizations have both SHIP and Connect for Health trained staff and volunteers, and their expertise is invaluable. Our navigators are trained to provide unbiased advice. They are not trying to sell you a plan, and instead just want what is best for you.
We strongly recommend that you take the time to review and compare plans during Open Enrollment. Not only will you get the best plan, you also may be able to save a lot of money. And if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Benefits in Action at 720-221-8354.
