This isn't medical, legal, or financial advice. Plan rules change; confirm with Medicare.gov, a SHIP counselor, or a licensed professional who works for your parent.
When is Medicare Open Enrollment?
For most people with Medicare, the main Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7. Changes typically take effect January 1. Some people also have a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31) with narrower options for switching, plus Special Enrollment Periods after a move or certain life events.
Put the AEP window on a shared family calendar before September is over. The deadline is the one part of this that won't bend.
How should adult children help without taking over?
Help looks like research, note-taking, and sitting next to them at the kitchen table while they compare. It does not look like signing them up while they're out of the room. Ask what matters most to them (keeping Dr. Lee, coverage on trips, a lower premium, dental extras). Let them click through the official tools themselves. Write the tradeoffs down in their words. For more on tone and boundaries, see how to help a parent with Medicare without taking over.
If siblings are involved, agree on one person to lead on Medicare so three of you don't end up calling the same plan. Our guide to sibling caregiving roles walks through who does what.
Family Open Enrollment checklist
Before you compare anything
Doctors, hospitals, and pharmacy
Prescriptions (easy to overlook)
Coverage path
Money and mail
Decision and follow-through
A one-hour family work block (sample agenda)
| Minutes | Task |
|---|
| 0 to 10 | Restate priorities; no plan talk yet |
| 10 to 25 | Update the doctor and drug lists |
| 25 to 45 | Compare two or three realistic options, no more |
| 45 to 55 | Parent says which one they prefer; siblings listen |
| 55 to 60 | Decide who tracks the confirmation and who files the paperwork |
Keep it to one hour. Past that, tired people say "whatever you think," and that's the decision everyone regrets in February.
Common Open Enrollment mistakes families make
- Skipping the drug list because the extras looked good
- Assuming last year's plan is still the best one. Networks and formularies change.
- Letting a sibling debate replace your parent's priorities
- Confusing Medigap with Advantage on a sales call
- Missing the December 7 deadline while waiting for the spreadsheet to be perfect
Where FamSteady fits
FamSteady's Care Navigator is being built for the letters, appointment logistics, and "is this enrollment window real?" questions that keep coming after enrollment. It is never medical advice, and your parent controls what gets shared. The waitlist is at famsteady.com.
What should a family put on a Medicare Open Enrollment checklist?
The dates, current plan IDs, the doctors and pharmacy your parent won't give up, a full prescription list, their priorities (cost, choice, travel), and a short comparison using official tools or a SHIP counselor. Finish by confirming the enrollment went through and the paperwork is filed. Throughout, your parent makes the decision.
When is Medicare Open Enrollment 2026?
For most people with Medicare, the Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, with changes taking effect January 1. Confirm the current year's dates on Medicare.gov anyway. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, is a separate, narrower window for some people already on Advantage plans.
Can adult children enroll a parent during Open Enrollment?
Only with the proper legal authority and your parent's direction, and even then it's better to sit together while they make the choice themselves. If there's a real question about their cognition or capacity, talk with an elder-law attorney or their clinician first. A sibling vote isn't a substitute for either.
Should we switch from Medigap to Medicare Advantage in Open Enrollment?
Only if the tradeoffs fit your parent's priorities. That means weighing networks, referrals, drug coverage, and extras against the predictable cost-sharing and provider flexibility Medigap offers. Switching can be hard to reverse in some situations. Use the official comparison tools and a SHIP counselor before any sales appointment.
What if siblings disagree about the "best" plan?
Go back to what your parent said they wanted and the tradeoffs you wrote down together. One person presents the options; nobody else lobbies the call center. You don't need everyone to agree. What you need is a clear choice from your parent that everyone can see was theirs.
Is this checklist enough without a broker?
For getting organized and preparing to compare, yes. A licensed agent or a SHIP counselor can help you interpret the options once you have them, and SHIP counseling is free. A broker isn't required for every household. Be wary of any pitch that skips your parent's drug and doctor lists.
Does FamSteady enroll people in Medicare plans?
No. FamSteady's Care Navigator is designed to help families get oriented with Medicare, appointments, and benefits questions. It's never medical advice, and it doesn't replace official enrollment channels like Medicare.gov or a SHIP counselor. FamSteady is pre-launch; the waitlist is at famsteady.com.
