5 Medicare Mistakes Orlando Seniors Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Billy Rosario
ABA 360 Solutions Group, LLC
Mistake #1: Missing the Initial Enrollment Period
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. Miss it, and you face late enrollment penalties that last for the rest of your Medicare life. For Part B, the penalty is 10% of the premium for every 12-month period you could have been enrolled but weren't. At $202.90/month in 2026, that's an extra $20+ per month — permanently. For Part D, the penalty is 1% of the national base premium multiplied by the number of months you went without creditable drug coverage. Mark your calendar three months before your 65th birthday.
Mistake #2: Not Reviewing Your Plan Every Year During AEP
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 each year. Many Orlando seniors sign up for a plan and never look at it again. But Medicare plans change their formularies, networks, and costs every year. The plan that was perfect in 2026 might drop your doctor, raise your specialist copay, or stop covering your medication in 2027 — and the AEP running now (through December 7, 2026) is your window to switch. Billy contacts his clients before every AEP to make sure they're still on the best plan — and switches them if they're not.
Mistake #3: Choosing a Plan Based on Premium Alone
A $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan sounds unbeatable. But those plans often come with higher copays for specialists ($40–$50), narrower provider networks, and prior authorization requirements that delay care. If you see a cardiologist, take specialty drugs, or travel frequently, a plan with a modest monthly premium but lower cost-sharing can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the year. The total cost of care — not just the premium — is what matters.
Mistake #4: Not Checking Whether Your Doctor Is In-Network
Orlando's healthcare landscape changes constantly. Hospitals acquire practices, doctors switch affiliations, and plan networks are renegotiated annually. Just because your primary care doctor was in-network last year doesn't mean they will be this year. Always verify your providers are in-network before enrolling — and especially before switching plans. A single out-of-network hospital visit can cost tens of thousands of dollars with Medicare Advantage.
Mistake #5: Skipping Part D Because You're Healthy
You feel great and don't take any prescriptions. Why pay for a drug plan? Because the late enrollment penalty never goes away. And because a sudden diagnosis — a fall, a new cardiac condition, diabetes — can hit anyone over 65. Without Part D, a single month of specialty medication can cost thousands. With the $2,000 annual cap now in effect, Part D is more affordable and protective than ever. Enroll during your IEP even if you don't need it today.
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