Medicare Supplement

Norfolk Medicare Enrollment: What to Do Before Dec. 7

NORFOLK, Va. — The clock is ticking on Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period, which runs through December 7. Whatever choices Norfolk residents lock in now will shape their coverage — and their drug costs — starting January 1, 2026. And 2026 brings real changes worth paying attention to.

Here's a plain-English guide to what you can actually do before the deadline, and how to think it through.

What the Annual Enrollment Period lets you do

Between October 15 and December 7, anyone with Medicare can make changes that take effect January 1. During this window, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
• Return to Original Medicare and pick up a standalone Part D plan.

If you're happy with what you have and your plan is renewing without major changes, you don't have to do anything. But it's still worth a look — plans update their formularies, networks, and cost-sharing every year.

Why 2026 is a year to actually check your plan

A few program-level changes make this AEP different from years past:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once your out-of-pocket drug spending hits that number, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615.
• The old "donut hole" is gone. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to opt into.
• IRMAA surcharges (higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher incomes) kick in above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026, based on your 2024 tax return.

If you take expensive medications, or if your income has changed recently, these are big deals.

Norfolk sits in Norfolk city — here's what that means for plan choice

Medicare plan availability isn't set by city — it's set by county (or in Virginia's case, by independent city). Norfolk is in Norfolk city, and the plans on your Medicare.gov search results are the ones licensed to serve that area. A neighbor across the water in Virginia Beach or Portsmouth may see a different list.

When you use the Medicare Plan Finder, it uses your ZIP code to pull the plans available where you live. That's the right tool for seeing your real options.

How to actually decide (a short checklist)

You don't need a spreadsheet. You do need to answer a few honest questions:

1. What drugs do I take? Write down every prescription, the dose, and how often. Then check whether each plan you're considering covers them and at what tier. 2. Which doctors and hospitals do I want to keep? If you're on Medicare Advantage or thinking about it, confirm your providers are in-network for 2026. Networks change. 3. Do I travel a lot or split time out of state? Original Medicare travels with you nationwide. Most Medicare Advantage plans have local networks. 4. How predictable do I need my costs to be? Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan works differently than Medicare Advantage. Neither is "better" — they trade off differently. 5. Did I get an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from my plan? It came in September. Read the "what's changing" section. That's where premium, copay, and drug list changes are spelled out.

What happens if you miss December 7

For most people, if you don't make a change by December 7, your current coverage rolls into 2026 (with any changes your plan already announced). You generally can't switch again until the next window — with one exception:

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 through March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan and it isn't working, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and pick up Part D). This period does not apply to people on Original Medicare who want to join Medicare Advantage.

Short FAQ

Q: I'm turning 65 in February. Does AEP apply to me? No. You have your own Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday. AEP is for people already enrolled in Medicare.

Q: My drug plan sent me a notice. Do I have to switch? No, but read it. If your medications moved to a higher tier or came off the formulary, that's a signal to compare plans before December 7.

Q: Can I keep my Medigap plan and change my Part D? Yes. Medigap and Part D are separate. Changing your drug plan during AEP doesn't affect your Medigap coverage.

Q: Is the $2,100 cap automatic? Yes. It applies to all Medicare Part D plans in 2026. You don't sign up for it — it's built into how Part D works now.

Where to get real answers

Please don't rely on a mailer or a TV ad to make this decision. Free, unbiased help is available:

• Medicare.gov — the Plan Finder tool is the official place to compare plans available in Norfolk city.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
• Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) — Virginia's SHIP. Trained local counselors can sit down with you and walk through your options at no cost. Call 1-800-552-3402 to find a counselor near Norfolk.

December 7 will be here before you know it. A single afternoon spent comparing your options — or on the phone with a SHIP counselor — is usually all it takes.