Medicare Coverage Details That Matter More Later in the Year

Medicare enrollees face key 2026 deadlines: March 31 ends the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period to switch or drop plans; reaching $2,100 in drug costs triggers zero copays for covered prescriptions; a 12-month trial period allows risk-free Advantage plan exit; directory errors enable mid-year plan changes; a 5-Star plan switch is possible mid-year; a 63-day window exists to enroll in Part D after losing coverage; and Medicare offers limited foreign travel coverage. Monitoring True Out-of-Pocket (TrOOP) costs monthly is crucial.