Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Is Here
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is open now through December 7. During this time, you can enroll in, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug plan, or switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Changes made during AEP generally take effect January 1.
If you haven't already, take a look at your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which your plan mailed in September. It explains changes to your plan's costs and coverage for the coming year. Pay attention to anything that could affect you, and we can help you compare your current coverage with other available options to see how well it may meet your needs.
Contact our office today to schedule time to walk through your choices. We will help you make a confident decision before AEP ends on December 7.
Frozen pipes, ice buildup, and heating problems can turn winter weather into expensive repairs. Before temperatures drop, use this checklist to prepare your home and review your homeowners insurance.
Inspect the exterior. Clear gutters and downspouts, have damaged roofing inspected, and look for tree limbs that could threaten your home during a storm. Hire qualified professionals for work you cannot safely handle yourself.
Protect your pipes. Disconnect garden hoses, winterize outdoor plumbing, and check insulation around pipes in unheated spaces. Locate your main water shutoff. If you'll be away, maintain adequate heat and arrange for someone to check the house.
Check heating and safety equipment. Schedule heating-system maintenance and a chimney inspection if you use a fireplace. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and keep combustible materials away from heat sources.
Review your coverage. Your policy may cover certain sudden winter losses, but wear and tear or neglected maintenance generally aren't covered. Ask your agent about frozen-pipe damage, damage from ice or snow, deductibles, and additional living expenses following a covered loss.
Check for water-related gaps. Sewer or drain backup may require additional coverage. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flooding, including flooding from snowmelt. Ask which protections your policy includes.
Update your inventory. Photograph your belongings, save receipts for major purchases, and keep copies somewhere accessible outside your home.
Contact our office to review your coverage and discuss any questions before winter arrives.
End-of-Year Compliance: A Checklist
Your End-of-Year Benefits Compliance Action Plan
As 2026 winds down, HR and benefits administrators face compliance deadlines that can't be missed. Finishing these tasks now helps protect your business from penalties and audit exposure and keeps employees clear on their coverage. Here's what's on the calendar.
October:
Creditable Coverage Notices must go out before October 15. They go to every Medicare-eligible individual who is eligible for your plan's prescription drug coverage, including active employees, COBRA beneficiaries, and covered spouses and dependents. When in doubt, send the notice. If you filed a Form 5500 extension, that deadline is also October 15, and missing it can bring significant Department of Labor penalties. October is also a good time to audit your COBRA notices for timeliness and accuracy. You can then calculate your 2027 COBRA rates (up to 102 percent of plan cost) to share with participants.
November–December:
Update COBRA premiums in your billing system and send any open enrollment reminders . Make sure your Section 125 plan documents reflect this year's changes, and run nondiscrimination testing for your FSAs and cafeteria plan. Confirm how you'll handle unused FSA balances , whether through carryover, a grace period, or a runout period, and tell employees so they can plan ahead. Finalize your ERISA plan-year closeout documentation , and update your Summary Plan Description if your plan changed. Then review your employee handbook for new state and local requirements.
Before Year-End:
If you're an Applicable Large Employer, start gathering data for your 2026 ACA reporting . Forms 1095-C are due to employees by March 2, 2027, and electronic filing with the IRS is due March 31, 2027. Confirm that you've tracked full-time status accurately for each month. Also check that your lowest-cost self-only plan meets the 2026 affordability threshold of 9.96 percent.
Don't forget your annual creditable coverage disclosure to CMS . It's due within 60 days after the start of your plan year and within 30 days of any change in status.
Tackle one section at a time, and reach out to us if you need guidance on the requirements specific to your business.