If you live in Franklin or Williamson County and already have Medicare, fall is an important time to take another look at your coverage.

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare Advantage and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year.

But here’s something we remind our clients every year: Annual Enrollment doesn’t mean you have to change your Medicare plan.

Sometimes your current plan is still a great fit. Other times, changes to your plan—or changes in your own healthcare needs—may mean it’s worth considering other options.

The important thing is to review your coverage before December 7 so you can make an informed decision for 2027.

Why Should Franklin Residents Review Their Medicare Coverage Each Year?

Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans are offered by private insurance companies, and those plans can change from one year to the next.

Even if you’ve been happy with your coverage in 2026, don’t automatically assume everything will work exactly the same way in 2027.

Before Annual Enrollment, your current plan should send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) explaining changes to your coverage for the coming year. Take the time to read it.

Here are some of the most important things to review.

1. Have Your Prescription Drug Costs Changed?

Prescription drug coverage is one of the first things we look at when helping clients review their Medicare coverage.

A medication that worked well with your plan this year could be treated differently next year. A plan may change its formulary, move a medication to a different tier, change cost-sharing, or make changes to its pharmacy network.

Your own prescriptions may have changed during the year, too.

When reviewing your 2027 coverage, consider:

• Are all of your current medications covered?
• What tier is each medication on?
• What will your estimated costs be?
• Does the plan have any restrictions on your medications?
• Are the pharmacies you prefer still participating with the plan, and are they preferred pharmacies?

Don’t assume that the plan with the lowest monthly premium will necessarily result in the lowest overall prescription costs.

2. Are Your Doctors and Hospitals Still in Network?

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, your provider network can be an important part of your annual review.

For Franklin and Williamson County residents, that means looking beyond whether a plan simply sounds good on paper. You also need to consider the doctors, specialists and healthcare facilities you actually use.

For example, many Franklin-area residents receive care through local and regional healthcare systems like Vanderbilt, Ascension, and Williamson Medical. If keeping particular physicians or facilities is important to you, checking their network participation for the upcoming plan year should be part of your review.

Don’t rely solely on the fact that your doctor accepted your plan this year. Provider networks can change.

It’s also a good idea to verify network participation with both the insurance company and your healthcare provider before making a final decision.

3. Have Your Plan’s Costs Changed?

A $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t mean that all of your healthcare is free.

When comparing your current plan with your 2027 options, look at the entire cost structure, including:

• Monthly premium
• Primary care and specialist copays
• Hospital costs
• Outpatient surgery costs
• Diagnostic testing and imaging
• Prescription costs
• Maximum out-of-pocket limit

Think about how you actually use healthcare.

Someone who rarely visits a doctor may have very different priorities from someone who sees several specialists or expects a procedure in the coming year.

4. Have Your Healthcare Needs Changed?

Sometimes the biggest change isn’t the Medicare plan at all—it’s you.

Think back over the past year.

Have you started seeing a new specialist? Have your prescriptions changed? Were you diagnosed with a new condition? Are you anticipating a surgery or procedure? Do you travel frequently? Have you moved?

These are all good reasons to take a fresh look at your Medicare coverage.

A plan that was an excellent choice several years ago isn’t automatically the best fit forever.

Do I Have to Change Medicare Plans During Annual Enrollment?

No.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions we encounter during Medicare Annual Enrollment.

If you’re satisfied with your current Medicare health and drug coverage, your plan is continuing into 2027, and you’ve reviewed its changes and determined that it still meets your needs, you generally don’t have to make a change simply because it’s Annual Enrollment.

In many cases, staying exactly where you are may be the right decision.

At Acuity Health Advisors, our goal isn’t to change someone’s Medicare plan just for the sake of changing it. We want our clients to understand their coverage and make an informed decision.

Sometimes that means choosing something different.

Sometimes it means saying, “Your current plan still looks good. Let’s leave it alone.”

Why Medicare Plan Choices Are Local

One reason searching online for the “best Medicare plan” can be frustrating is that there isn’t one Medicare plan that’s best for everyone.

Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability depends in part on where you live, and Medicare Advantage plans have defined service areas.

That makes your location important.

If you live in Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, Spring Hill or elsewhere in Williamson County, the options available to you may be different from those available to someone living in another Tennessee county.

Your doctors may be different. Your prescriptions may be different. Your preferred pharmacies may be different. Your healthcare needs and budget may be different.

That’s why we believe Medicare plan comparisons should be personal.

How Should You Compare Medicare Plans in Franklin, TN?

It’s easy to get distracted by Medicare advertisements promising extra benefits.

Those benefits can certainly be worth considering, but we generally recommend starting with the fundamentals.

Start with your healthcare.

Make a list of your doctors, specialists and healthcare facilities.

Then look at your prescriptions.

Gather an up-to-date list of your medications, including the dosage and frequency.

Consider your preferred pharmacies.

Drug costs can vary depending on the plan and pharmacy you use.

Look at the total costs—not just the premium.

Copays, coinsurance, prescription costs and maximum out-of-pocket limits can matter just as much as the monthly premium.

Finally, consider additional benefits.

Once you’ve made sure a plan works for your primary healthcare needs, you can compare additional benefits that are important to you.

The goal isn’t to find the plan with the longest list of extras.

The goal is to find coverage that makes sense for you.

When Is Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 Coverage?

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is:

October 15 – December 7, 2026

Changes made during this period generally take effect January 1, 2027.

You don’t have to wait until December to start thinking about your coverage. In fact, we recommend gathering your current medication and provider information ahead of time so you’re prepared to review your options once 2027 plan information is available.

Looking for a Medicare Agent in Franklin, Tennessee?

You don’t have to navigate Medicare Annual Enrollment by yourself—or rely on a national call center.

Acuity Health Advisors is an independent, locally owned Medicare and health insurance agency serving Franklin, Williamson County and communities throughout Middle Tennessee.

Our office is located nearby in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and we help Medicare beneficiaries compare coverage from multiple insurance companies.

When we review Medicare coverage, we look at the things that matter to the individual—such as prescriptions, doctors, healthcare needs, costs and personal preferences.

And because we’re independent, we’re able to help clients consider options from multiple insurance companies rather than representing just one company.

Why Work With Acuity Health Advisors?

Acuity Health Advisors has helped hundreds of Middle Tennessee residents navigate Medicare.

Our agency offers:

• Independent Medicare advice with access to multiple major insurance companies
• Local service from a Middle Tennessee agency
• 150+ five-star Google reviews
• Experienced Medicare advisors
• Ongoing support after enrollment
• No additional cost to you for our services

Most importantly, we want you to understand your coverage and feel comfortable with the decision you make.

Need Help Reviewing Your Medicare Coverage in Franklin or Williamson County?

If you live in Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, Spring Hill or elsewhere in Williamson County and have questions about your Medicare coverage for 2027, we’d be happy to help.

Whether you’re wondering if your current plan is still a good fit or you’d like to compare other Medicare options available in your area, you can talk with a local Medicare advisor at Acuity Health Advisors.

Call Acuity Health Advisors at 615-919-1009

Let’s review your Medicare coverage together and make sure you understand your options for 2027.

Acuity Health Advisors is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and serves Medicare beneficiaries throughout Middle Tennessee.

 

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 8 organizations which offer 74 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.