Your Spring Medicare Check-Up: 5 Steps to Review Coverage Before Summer

March is the perfect month to give your Medicare coverage a thorough review.

Tax season is wrapping up, summer travel is months away, and your 2026 coverage is already locked in, which means you have time to spot any gaps before you need to use your benefits.

Why 2026 Demands a Closer Look

This year’s Medicare cost increases are significant.

The standard Medicare Part B premium rose to $202.90/month in 2026, up $17.90 from 2025, nearly a 10% increase. Your Part B deductible also climbed to $283 this year, up from $257 in 2025.

Important: That Part B premium hike is more than three times the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment of 2.8%. If you haven’t accounted for this in your monthly budget, now is the time.

Step 1: Verify Your Premium Is Correct

Pull out your most recent Medicare statement or Social Security award letter.

Confirm you’re paying the standard Part B premium of $202.90. If your 2024 income exceeded $109,000 (individual) or $218,000 (couple), you may owe an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharge on top of that.

If your income dropped in 2024 or 2025 due to retirement, divorce, or another life event, you may be able to appeal your IRMAA. Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to request a review.

Step 2: Check Your Part D Drug Coverage

Many beneficiaries don’t realize their prescriptions may have shifted tiers, or dropped off their plan’s formulary on January 1.

The good news: 2026 marks the second year of a landmark change. The Inflation Reduction Act capped Part D out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 in 2025 for the first time; before that, there was effectively no limit. 

That cap adjusted slightly to $2,100 in 2026, meaning once you hit that threshold, your covered drugs cost you nothing for the rest of the year.

But the cap alone doesn’t protect you from formulary changes. If your medications shifted to a higher tier, you could be paying more than necessary before you ever reach it.

Log in to Medicare Plan Finder to confirm your current drugs are still covered at a cost-effective tier — and that you’re in the right plan for 2026.

Step 3: Schedule Your Free Annual Wellness Visit

Your Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is covered at $0 cost under Medicare Part B if your provider accepts assignment.

Starting January 1, 2026, Medicare added coverage for a physical activity and nutrition assessment as part of this visit, a valuable new benefit. 

Use your spring check-up appointment to review your personalized prevention plan, update your medication list, and screen for fall risk or cognitive changes.

Important: This is not the same as a routine physical exam. Ask your doctor specifically to schedule an Annual Wellness Visit to ensure it’s billed correctly, and you pay nothing.

Step 4: Review Your Medicare supplement Coverage

If you have a Medigap plan, check whether your premium increased this year.

Many insurers send rate-change notices in September or October, but beneficiaries often miss them. 

If your premium jumped significantly, it may be worth comparing rates. Because Medigap plans are standardized by letter, a Plan G from one carrier covers the same services as a Plan G from another, but premiums can vary widely.

Outside your original Open Enrollment Period, switching plans typically requires medical underwriting. 

Calling your Personal Benefits Manager (PBM) at MediGap Advisors before making any changes is the smartest first step.

Step 5: Think Ahead to Summer Travel

Original Medicare covers emergency care outside the U.S. only in very limited circumstances.

If you’re planning international travel this summer, confirm whether your Medicare supplement plan includes foreign travel emergency coverage. 

Plan G, Plan N, and several other Medigap plans cover 80% of emergency foreign travel costs after a $250 deductible, up to a lifetime benefit of $50,000.

If you’re traveling domestically, verify that your doctors and any hospitals you might use near your destination accept Medicare assignment, so there are no surprise billing gaps.

A 30-minute review now can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of stress later. 

Reach out to your PBM anytime; we’re here to help you make the most of every benefit you’ve earned.

Check out our latest blog posts:

IRMAA Brackets and Income Thresholds for 2026: What You Need to Know?

What Are Medicare Supplement Plans? Simple Guide for 2026