Medicare has open enrollment every year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. It’s the only time you can make changes to your existing plans. Making decisions about Medicare can be tough because once you make any changes, you have to live with them for a year. Here are a few things to know:

• When you sign up during open enrollment, coverage will start Jan. 1, 2018.

• If you’ve already had Medicare, you’ll receive a Medicare & You booklet in the mail. Spend the time between now and December reviewing it and deciding if you need to make any changes.

• By now you should have received notices in the mail as well, either a Notice of Change or

You must be logged in to view this content.