Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period 2025 for Tampa Bay Area Beneficiaries
Hey Tampa Bay, if you’re already on Medicare or turning 65 soon, mark your calendars: the Annual Open Enrollment Period kicks off on October 15, 2025. This is your once-a-year window to review, switch, or tweak your Medicare coverage for 2026 without penalties. With premiums on the rise and exciting updates to drug costs, now’s the time to get informed and make wise choices that fit your health needs and budget.
This article, “Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period 2025 for Tampa Bay Area Beneficiaries,” gives you a straightforward overview of what matters most, no jargon overload. We’ll cover key dates, potential changes, and simple steps to prepare.
Important note: This is a living document. I’ll automatically update it with the latest numbers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) at cms.gov as they become available.
I intend to answer most of your questions in this article, but if I miss anything, please email me at daniel@myphss.com, and I will answer it.
Table of Contents
What Is the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period?
The 2025 Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period for Tampa Bay beneficiaries is from October 15 to December 7, 2025, during which you can make changes to your plan for coverage that begins January 1, 2026. During this time, you can switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan, change to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or enroll in, change, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan. Let’s break it down a little more…
What you can do
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Review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC):By September 30, you should have received an ANOC from your current plan. This document summarizes changes to benefits, costs, and coverage for the upcoming year, so it is essential to review it.
- Switch to or from a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan: You can switch from Original Medicare to an MA plan or from an MA plan back to Original Medicare.
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Change MA plans:
You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
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Enroll in, change, or drop a Part D plan:
You can join a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, switch to a different one, or drop coverage completely.
Key Dates for 2025 Open Enrollment
Timing is everything – here’s what you need to know:
- October 15, 2025: Enrollment officially starts. Plans for 2026 are beginning to appear online.
- December 7, 2025: Last day to make changes. Anything submitted by midnight counts.
- January 1, 2026: Your new (or renewed) coverage kicks in.
Pro Tip: Don’t wait until the last day if you want to change something. I have seen so many people wait until the last minute, only for something to happen that creates problems down the road. Give yourself time to correct any potential mistakes.
New Rising Premiums and Deductibles:
Medicare costs are rising again, according to the latest Trustees Report projections. This means budgeting a bit more for doctor visits and hospital stays.
- Medicare Part B Premium: The standard monthly premium is projected to hit $206.50 in 2026, up about $21.50 from $185 in 2025. That’s for outpatient care, doctor visits, and preventive services, essentials for managing conditions like diabetes or heart issues common among our Tampa Bay retirees. Higher earners may pay more via Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA).
- Part B Deductible: Expected to rise to around $270, from $257 this year, covering your first chunk of outpatient costs.
These aren’t final – CMS typically announces official numbers in late October or early November 2025, and I’ll update here right away. For most folks, Part B is automatic, but reviewing during OEP can help pair it with the right supplemental coverage.
Medicare Part A Deductibles Are Also on the Rise!
If you have Original Medicare, the Part A deductible for inpatient hospital care is projected at $1,716 in 2026, a bump from $1,676 in 2025. Good news: If you’ve worked 10+ years, Part A is premium-free. But in spread-out areas like Hernando or Citrus counties, where hospital trips might mean longer drives, planning for these costs is key to avoiding stress.
Major Updates to Medicare Part D: The $2,100 Out-of-Pocket Cap Takes Effect
Prescription drugs got a big win from the Inflation Reduction Act, and 2026 builds on it. If high-cost meds are part of your routine (think insulin or cancer treatments), these changes could save you hundreds.
- Out-of-Pocket Cap: Jumps to $2,100 in 2026 from $2,000 this year, adjusted for inflation. Once you hit it, covered drugs are free for the rest of the year – a game-changer for chronic conditions.
- Prescription Payment Plan: Now easier to enroll, letting you spread drug costs over monthly payments instead of one big hit. Perfect for seasonal workers in Polk or Sumter counties.
- Deductibles: May climb to $590 or higher, so compare plans early.
- Premiums: Average stand-alone Part D plans could dip to $34.50 monthly, down from $38.31.
Low-income? The Extra Help program is expanding, potentially wiping out premiums and deductibles. In Tampa Bay’s diverse communities, this levels the playing field.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) Updates: Opportunities and Watch-Outs in Florida
Medicare Advantage plans – those all-in-one options with perks like gym memberships and rides to appointments – remain hugely popular here, covering over half of Florida seniors. But 2026 brings tweaks.
- Funding Boost: CMS projects a 5.06% increase in payments, injecting billions that could mean better benefits from carriers like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Aetna (all available through independent brokers like MyPhss).
- Average Premiums: Slipping to about $14 monthly, from $16.40 – more affordable extras without the hike.
- Faster Approvals: New rules require decisions on urgent care within 72 hours, a relief in fast-growing Pasco County where wait times can drag.
- Plan Shifts: Some insurers are scaling back offerings or adding small premiums to control costs, affecting over a million nationwide, including in Florida. Check networks carefully, especially in flood-prone Pinellas or Hillsborough.
Over 99% of beneficiaries still have access to an MA plan, so options abound. Just ensure it fits your docs and pharmacies.
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