Medicare Plans
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment in Houston, TX
Annual Open Enrollment, often shortened to AEP, is the one stretch of the year when nearly everyone on Medicare can switch plans with no qualifying event required. It runs October 15 through December 7, and whatever you pick takes effect January 1.
It's also the season of mailers, TV spots and cold calls. Our advice is plain: skip the noise, look at your own drug list and doctors, and make one clear-headed decision.
- October 15 through December 7 every year
- Any changes take effect January 1
- Review your drug list and your network first
- Free plan reviews for Greater Houston seniors
Get your plan checked before December 7
Send us your current plan, your prescriptions and your doctors. A licensed agent compares next year's costs against the plans we represent in your Houston ZIP code and calls you back during business hours. If staying put is the right call, we'll say so.
What to expect
Free review- A licensed agent calls you back during business hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm CT
- Your doctors and prescriptions get checked before any plan is suggested
- No fee for our help, and your premium is the same either way
- No obligation to enroll, and no pressure if you'd rather stay put
Reviewed by the licensed Texas agents at Houston Senior Insurance. Last reviewed: October 2026. Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm CT.
Thanks, we have your request.
A licensed agent will call you during business hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm CT. If you'd rather not wait, call 713-651-3098 now.
What's allowed
Changes you can make during AEP
- Move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan
- Move from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Join, drop or change a standalone Part D drug plan
Medigap runs on different rules
Medicare Supplement plans aren't part of AEP. You can apply for a Medigap plan at any time, but outside your one-time Medigap open enrollment window, the carrier can ask health questions.
Prepare
A short review beats a long comparison
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1
Read your Annual Notice of Change
Your plan sends it by the end of September. It spells out next year's premium, copays, drug tiers and network changes in one letter.
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2
Update your prescription list
Dosages change, drugs get added. Bring the current list. It's usually the single biggest driver of your cost. Our Part D drug plans guide shows what to compare.
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3
Confirm your doctors and hospital
Check your clinic and hospital system, whether that's in Sugar Land or the Texas Medical Center, against next year's directory, not this year's.
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4
Decide before Thanksgiving
December 7 is a hard deadline. Applications filed in the final days leave no room to fix a mistake.
Comparing drug coverage? Start with Part D drug plans in Houston. Thinking about a bigger move? Read Medicare Advantage in Houston and Advantage vs. Medigap.
Local networks
What changes most for Houston-area plans
Across Greater Houston, Advantage networks lean on systems like Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, St. Luke's Health and HCA Houston Healthcare, and some plans are built around a single medical group such as Kelsey-Seybold. MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center also serve the area. A plan can keep one system and drop another from one year to the next, so check each doctor and hospital by name against next year's directory. See every community we help on our service areas page.
Other windows
If you miss December 7
Advantage members get a second shot from January 1 through March 31 to make one more change, either to a different Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan added. Outside of that, you'd need a Special Enrollment Period tied to something like moving out of a plan's service area or losing employer coverage.
If you're brand new to Medicare, your Initial Enrollment Period around turning 65 applies instead. Not sure which window fits your situation? See switching your plan.
Questions
Open Enrollment in Houston: common questions
When is Medicare Open Enrollment?
Do I have to do anything if I'm happy with my plan?
Can I switch Medigap plans during Open Enrollment?
What if I miss December 7?
Where can I get free, unbiased help in Texas?
Book your free Open Enrollment review
We'll look at your plan every fall, whether or not a change ends up making sense this year.