Medicare Open Enrollment in Douglas County (2026)
Every fall, Medicare opens a window for you to review and change your coverage. This period, called the Annual Election Period, gives you the chance to switch plans, add coverage, or make changes based on how your health needs or your current plan have changed over the past year.
For Douglas County seniors, open enrollment is your opportunity to make sure you have the best Medicare coverage for 2026. Your current plan’s costs, covered drugs, and provider network may have changed. New plans may offer better benefits or lower premiums. Taking time to review your options during this period can save you money and improve your access to care.
This guide explains the 2026 open enrollment timeline, what changes you can make, and how to review your current coverage to decide whether switching plans makes sense.
2026 Open Enrollment Dates
The Medicare Annual Election Period for 2026 coverage runs from October 15, 2025 through December 7, 2025.
Any changes you make during this period take effect on January 1, 2026.
You have nearly two months to review your current plan, compare other options, and make decisions about your coverage. Don’t wait until the last few days. Plans get busy in late November and early December, which can cause delays in processing your enrollment.
After the Annual Election Period ends, you cannot make changes unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or you’re enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
Speaking of Medicare Advantage, there’s a second enrollment period specifically for people in these plans. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026.
This second period only applies if you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare during this time. You get one change during this period.
What You Can Do During Open Enrollment
The Annual Election Period gives you the most flexibility to change your Medicare coverage. Here’s what you can do:
Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
If your current Medicare Advantage plan increased premiums, changed its network, or no longer meets your needs, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan available in Douglas County.
Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare
If you’re unhappy with Medicare Advantage’s networks, prior authorizations, or coverage limitations, you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. You can also add a Medigap plan and Part D coverage, though Medigap enrollment may require answering health questions.
Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
If you currently have Original Medicare (with or without Medigap) and want to try Medicare Advantage, you can enroll during open enrollment. You might choose this option for lower premiums, extra benefits like dental and vision, or included prescription drug coverage.
Join a Part D prescription drug plan
If you have Original Medicare and no drug coverage, you can add a standalone Part D plan. This is also when you should enroll if you previously had creditable coverage that recently ended.
Switch Part D plans
If your current Part D plan increased premiums, removed your medications from its formulary, or raised your copays, you can switch to a different Part D plan that better covers your drugs.
Drop Part D coverage
If you’re enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage or you’re getting creditable coverage from another source, you can drop your standalone Part D plan.
You don’t need a special reason to make changes during the Annual Election Period. You simply decide what coverage works best for you and enroll.
Changes to Medicare Plans for 2026
Medicare plans can change from year to year. Your 2025 plan won’t necessarily offer the same premiums, coverage, or network in 2026.
Common changes include:
Premium increases or decreases
Your monthly premium may go up or down. Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, comparing other plans might reveal lower-cost options with similar benefits.
Copay changes
Your plan might adjust copays for doctor visits, specialist appointments, hospital stays, or other services. A $20 copay in 2025 might become $30 in 2026.
Drug formulary changes
Plans regularly add or remove medications from their covered drug lists. Your medication might move to a higher tier with increased copays, or the plan might stop covering it entirely and require you to switch to an alternative.
Provider network changes
Doctors and hospitals can join or leave your plan’s network. A specialist you’ve been seeing might no longer accept your plan, or your preferred hospital might become out-of-network.
Your current plan must send you an Annual Notice of Change letter by September 30. This letter explains what’s changing in your plan for the upcoming year.
Read this letter carefully. It tells you:
- Your new premium amount
- Changes to copays and deductibles
- Updates to the drug formulary
- Network changes
If you see changes that affect your care or increase your costs significantly, use open enrollment to find a better plan.
LMH Health Network Changes
Lawrence residents need to pay special attention to network participation at LMH Health when reviewing Medicare Advantage plans.
LMH Health does not accept Aetna or Humana Medicare Advantage plans. If you enrolled in an Aetna or Humana Medicare Advantage plan for 2025 and want to continue receiving care at LMH Health, you need to switch plans during open enrollment.
Your options for Medicare Advantage plans that include LMH Health in their networks include Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellcare.
You can also switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare. LMH Health accepts all Original Medicare patients, and you can add a Medicare supplement plan for additional coverage without network restrictions.
If you’re currently in an Aetna or Humana Medicare Advantage plan and haven’t switched yet, the Annual Election Period is your best opportunity to find coverage that lets you continue seeing your Lawrence doctors.
For more detailed information about switching plans, review our guide on how to switch Medicare plans in Lawrence.
How to Review Your Current Plan
Don’t assume your current plan is still your best option. Follow this checklist to review your coverage before open enrollment ends:
Read your Annual Notice of Change letter
- Review all changes to premiums, copays, and coverage
- Note any medications removed from the formulary
- Check for network changes affecting your doctors
Check if your doctors are still in network
- Call your primary care doctor's office and ask if they'll accept your plan in 2026
- Confirm your specialists still participate in the network
- Verify that LMH Health accepts your plan if you use their services
Check if your prescriptions are still covered
- Review the 2026 formulary for your current plan
- Note which tier your medications are in
- Look for any new prior authorization or step therapy requirements
Compare your current costs to other available plans
- Use Medicare's Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov
- Enter your medications to see total estimated annual costs
- Compare premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums
Consider if your health needs have changed
- Think about whether you'll need different care in 2026
- Consider new diagnoses or health conditions that might require more doctor visits
- Evaluate whether extra benefits like dental, vision, or hearing would help you
If your current plan still offers good value and covers your needs, you can keep it. You don’t have to switch just because it’s open enrollment.
But if you find a plan with lower costs, better coverage, or improved access to your preferred doctors, making a change can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the year.
Free Medicare Counseling in Douglas County
You don’t have to review Medicare plans alone. Douglas County offers free, unbiased counseling through trained volunteers who can help you understand your options.
SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) provides free Medicare counseling to Kansas residents. SHICK counselors are volunteers who receive extensive training on Medicare rules, plan options, and enrollment processes.
SHICK counselors can:
- Explain how Medicare works
- Help you compare plans
- Review your medications and find plans with the best drug coverage
- Assist with enrollment paperwork
- Answer questions about Medicare costs and coverage
In Douglas County, you can access SHICK services through the Douglas County Senior Resource Center.
Call 785-572-7872 to schedule an appointment with a SHICK counselor.
This service is completely free and unbiased. SHICK counselors don’t sell insurance or receive commissions. They exist solely to help you make informed decisions about Medicare coverage.
During open enrollment, appointments fill quickly. Call early in the enrollment period to secure a time that works for your schedule.
Get Local Help During Open Enrollment
In addition to free SHICK counseling, Lawrence seniors can work with licensed insurance agents who specialize in Medicare coverage.
Licensed agents can provide personalized plan comparisons, check whether your doctors accept specific plans, review drug formularies for your medications, and help you enroll in new coverage.
This service is free. Insurance companies pay agents, so you don’t pay anything for their help.
Ready to review your Medicare options for 2026? Call 785-247-1314 to speak with a local Lawrence insurance specialist who can compare plans and help you find coverage that meets your needs and budget.
Don’t wait until the last week of open enrollment. Start reviewing your options now to make an informed decision about your 2026 Medicare coverage.