Your Medicare plan with FirstMedicare Direct will end on December 31, 2025. You’ll need to pick a new plan for 2026. Here are some key things to consider when choosing a new plan.

When to Enroll

• Annual Enrollment Period: Enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan between October 15 – December 7 to make sure you get coverage that begins January 1, 2026. You don’t want to have a gap in coverage.
• Special Enrollment Periods: Since your current Medicare Advantage plan is ending and can’t be renewed, you also qualify for two types of “Special Enrollment Periods.”
• Between December 8, 2025, and February 28, 2026, you can switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) or Medicare Cost Plan. You should enroll as soon as possible in December, to make sure your new plan begins covering you at the earliest possible date. (Note: You’ll be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare if you don’t join another Medicare Advantage plan before your current plan ends on December 31, 2025.)
• You also have the right to switch to Original Medicare (instead of Medicare Advantage) and buy a Medicare Supplement, aka “Medigap,” plan alongside it. Medicare Supplement plans help pay for the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These types of plans only pay after Medicare pays and do not include prescription drug coverage, so you may also need to choose a separate Part D/Prescription Drug Plan. If you choose this option, you must enroll in your new Medigap plan between November 1, 2025, and March 4, 2026. You should enroll as soon as possible to make sure your new plan will be in place to start covering you on January 1, 2026.

What to Consider When Choosing a New Plan

• Are your current providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.) in the plan's network?
• Is your pharmacy in the plan’s network?
• Are your prescriptions covered and what is the cost?
• What are the costs of the plan’s premiums, copays and other specific coverage you may need – like dental, vision or hearing coverage.

How to Get Assistance

• Medicare.gov – Allows you to compare plans in your area based on your prescriptions and provider preferences. Visit medicare.gov or call (800) MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY: 1-877-486-2048.
• “Medicare & You” Handbook – Mailed to all Medicare enrollees each fall. It includes a full list of local Medicare plans and contact information. View online at https://medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf.
• SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program) – Offers free, unbiased help from trained counselors in your community. Find your local office at https://NCDOI.gov/consumers/contact-seniors-health-insurance-information-program-shiip. Call (855) 408-1212.
• To confirm whether a specific doctor/hospital/provider accepts a specific Medicare Advantage plan, visit the provider’s website or call their Patient Services team.
• A Local Agent – Many members have a trusted relationship with a local health insurance agent who’s educated on plan offerings in your area. You can reach out to them. If you do not have a relationship with a local broker, you can find a list of brokers here.