Whether you are new to Medicare or have some experience with it, understanding your options and their costs can be overwhelming. Moreover, this complicated process can change year to year. Even if you've been enrolled in Medicare for several years, it is a good idea to check whether your current plan is still optimal for you. But as you probably already know, navigating your options by yourself can be daunting.
The National Council on Aging, opens a new window (NCOA) provides several Medicare Enrollment Assistance resources that can help. In particular, review their guide, "Who Is the Best Person to Talk to About Medicare?", opens a new window They outline three options to consider. Briefly, they include:
- State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs, opens a new window). This includes Santa Clara County's Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program, opens a new window (HICAP, opens a new window) available through Sourcewise, opens a new window. Sourcewise provides residents of Santa Clara County access to one-on-one counseling to assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers understand their Medicare benefits and healthcare options. This service is free. You can schedule a one-on-one Medicare or long-term care insurance counseling session with a Community Resource Specialists at (408) 350-3200, option 1. Sourcewise is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- The Medicare Support Hotline, opens a new window - Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to talk with a customer support representative about your Medicare questions and concerns—or visit the Medicare.gov website to start a live chat. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. The Medicare Support Hotline is available 24/7, except for some federal holidays.
- A qualified, certified Medicare agent or broker, opens a new window who can offer you objective, personalized enrollment advice. They will help you weigh the factors to consider in choosing a Medicare plan, opens a new window. Agents may work for a single health insurance company; brokers may represent several companies. You won’t pay, opens a new window anything additional if you enroll with an agent or broker. This article, opens a new window provides on information what a Medicare broker does and reasons to consider using one.
Another option not mentioned in the article is to just go to Medicare.gov, opens a new window. The website provides information on Medicare basics, opens a new window, Medicare costs, opens a new window and finding and comparing Medicare providers, opens a new window. If you are eligible, opens a new window for Medicare, remember to pick your 2025 plan, opens a new window before the December 7 deadline this year.
Library Resources
Medicare & You 2025, opens a new window
Medicare, opens a new window by Patricia Barry
Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of your Retirement & Medical Benefits, opens a new window by J.L. Matthews
References
Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage | Medicare. Www.medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
Who Can Help Me Choose a Medicare Plan? (2024, August 12). Ncoa.org. https://www.ncoa.org/article/who-is-the-best-person-to-talk-to-about-medicare/
Make Sense of Medicare – HICAP | Sourcewise. (2020, August 7). Sourcewise | Sourcewise. https://mysourcewise.com/programs-services/medicare-options/
