Medicare Open Enrollment — Appointments Fill Fast!
If you want a spot to meet with a trained State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor at the Flathead County Agency on Aging, don’t wait — appointments fill up quickly during Medicare Open Enrollment.
Every fall, from October 15 through December 7, Medicare beneficiaries have a chance to review their coverage, compare plans, and make changes for the coming year. With only a few short weeks to act, our SHIP advisors’ schedules fill fast — and the earlier you sign up, the more time you’ll have to find a plan that fits your needs and your budget.
Why is it so important to review your Medicare coverage? Because plans can change every year, and so do your health needs. Last year, fewer than two-thirds of enrollees compared their coverage options, meaning many older adults potentially missed out on savings or discovered too late that a medication, doctor, or pharmacy was no longer covered.
Here are just a few reasons to take advantage of this open enrollment window:
- Prescription coverage changes: The drugs your plan covers — or doesn’t — can shift from year to year.
- Doctors and hospitals: If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure your preferred providers remain in-network.
- Rising premiums: Monthly costs and copays can increase.
- New savings programs: If your income has dropped, you may now qualify for Extra Help or Medicare Savings Programs to lower your costs.
If you’re ready to review your plan, here are some simple steps to guide you:
- Read the Annual Notice of Change you received from your current plan. This outlines any premium, coverage, or pharmacy network updates for next year.
- Compare your options at Medicare.gov. If you haven’t already created an account, you’ll need an email and two-factor authentication. Your secure Medicare account lets you view your current plan details, add your prescriptions, and compare other plans side-by-side.
- Explore your choices. You can use your saved information to see which plans best match your needs and even enroll directly from the site. For additional details, AARP’s Open Enrollment Guide offers a clear overview of the process.
If this still feels overwhelming, don’t worry — you don’t have to go through it alone. Our SHIP counselors provide free, unbiased, and confidential guidance to help you make confident, informed choices. They’ll walk you through your plan comparisons and explain what’s changed in simple terms.
As you review your options, stay alert for scams. Medicare will never call you unexpectedly or ask for your Medicare number, credit card, or bank information. If you get a suspicious call, hang up and report it to 1-800-MEDICARE or ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Medicare Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to protect both your coverage and your wallet. Make sure you have the expert help you need — schedule your SHIP appointment with the Flathead County Agency on Aging by calling (406) 758-5730 today before all spots are filled!