Providers and facilities
Privately list doctors, specialists, hospitals, clinics, and other facilities you expect to use. Verify participation directly for the coming plan year.
A privacy-safe preparation tool
Annual Medicare Coverage Review Checklist
Use this checklist to organize questions about current coverage. Complete sensitive details privately and verify every plan-specific fact in current official documents.
Before comparing options
Gather current information
- Read the Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage
- Confirm the coverage path: Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage
- Identify any separate Part D or Medigap policy
- Note changes in residence, travel, retirement, or other coverage
- List questions about costs, access, and service
- Confirm the enrollment period that may apply
Health-care access
Review providers, prescriptions, and pharmacies
Prescriptions
Privately review each prescription, dosage, and frequency. Confirm prescription coverage list status, tier, restrictions, and any prior-authorization or step-therapy rules.
Pharmacies
Check preferred, standard, mail-order, and specialty pharmacy rules where relevant. Pharmacy status and cost-sharing can change.
Costs and coverage terms
Compare the categories that affect your use
- Monthly monthly costs for all applicable coverage
- Medical and prescription deductibles
- Copays and coinsurance for services you may use
- Applicable out-of-pocket limits and what counts toward them
- Prior authorization, referral, and provider access rules
- Travel, emergency, urgent-care, and service-area rules
- Prescription tiers, restrictions, and pharmacy status
- Current official details for any additional coverage
No single number shows the full value or fit of coverage. Use current plan materials and consider the whole situation.
What changed for you?
Personal changes can affect the questions worth asking
Care and medication
New providers, prescriptions, pharmacies, care locations, expected services, or caregiver involvement may change which details deserve attention.
Life and location
A move, extended travel, retirement, loss of other coverage, income-related change, or household change may create new questions or enrollment rights.
Special Enrollment Period eligibility depends on the event and circumstances. Confirm current official rules instead of assuming a change automatically creates an enrollment right.
Make a deliberate decision
A review can confirm that current coverage still fits
The purpose of an annual review is not to force a change. After reviewing current notices, expected needs, and available options, staying with existing coverage may be appropriate. A change should be based on current verified information and the individual’s needs.
Do not cancel or replace coverage until the new choice, application, enrollment, and effective date are confirmed through the proper process.
Official sources
Use current documents and Medicare guidance
Medicare.govAnnual Notice of Change informationMedicare.govAnnual Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollmentMedicare Plan CompareCurrent plan informationMedicare.govJoining a health or drug plan
Official sources reviewed July 21, 2026. This checklist is general education, not an eligibility decision, recommendation, application, enrollment, or guarantee of coverage.
Continue your annual review
Use the Medicare Advantage questions or return to the complete Medicare resource guide.
Contact and enrollment notice: Contacting Southern Shield does not enroll you in a Medicare plan, create coverage, or establish a Scope of Appointment. Additional required steps may apply before specific plan discussions. Do not send Medicare numbers, medical information, prescription details, financial information, or account information through public forms or ordinary email.
“We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information provided is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”