I like my plan — do I really need to review it every year?

Yes, and it doesn't have to take long. Plans change every year, so a quick annual review during the Annual Enrollment Period can head off surprises and often saves money. Even if you've been happy with your plan, the plan itself can change for the coming year, and each fall your insurer sends an Annual Notice of Change that spells out what's different. The things that tend to change are worth watching. Drug formularies get updated, so a medication you rely on can move to a higher cost tier or drop off the list entirely. Premiums, deductibles, and copays can shift. Provider and pharmacy networks change too, which means your doctor or preferred pharmacy might no longer be in network. And in Medicare Advantage plans, the extra benefits can change from one year to the next. The Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, is your once-a-year chance to switch Medicare Advantage or Part D plans, with any change taking effect January 1. Comparing your notice against your current doctors and prescriptions takes a little time but frequently turns up a plan that fits better or costs less. That said, switching isn't always the right call, and sometimes staying put is best, so the goal is to compare rather than change for its own sake. You can compare plans yourself at Medicare.gov, get free help from your local SHIP, or have a licensed agent run your doctors and medications against the available plans, at no cost to you.

— Matt Rolph, Los Angeles, CAVerified