Using AI to get ready for Medicare Open Enrollment

AI won't pick a plan for you, but it can explain the jargon and help you walk into the decision with the right questions.

Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year. It's when you can review your coverage and switch plans for next year. The paperwork is full of terms like "premium," "deductible," and "formulary." An AI chat can explain those in plain words and help you make a checklist, so the real decision goes faster.

What AI is good for here

• Explaining terms in your plan letter or the Annual Notice of Change in plain English.
• Turning your situation into a list of questions to ask.
• Helping you organize what you care about: your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget.

What AI is not for

It doesn't know your exact plans, prices, or which doctors are in-network this year, and it can be wrong. Use the official Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or get free one-on-one help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to compare real plans.

A prompt to start with

I'm on Medicare and it's Open Enrollment. Explain these terms in plain words: premium, deductible, copay, out-of-pocket maximum, and formulary. Then help me make a short list of questions to ask before I compare plans. My priorities are [MY PRIORITIES, for example: keeping my doctor, low drug costs].

Keep your details private

Don't type your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details into any AI tool. You never need them to get an explanation or a question list.

Also read: Use AI to get ready for a doctor visit