MEDICARE Annual Open Enrollment 2026
Every year, Medicare has an Open Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7. The changes or selections that are made become active on January 1 of the upcoming year. The options for Medicare can be confusing. Drug Plan? Medicare Advantage Plan? Changes in the health status or needs for yourself or the person you care for may mean that a change in the Medicare options would be helpful. PA MEDI is an agency that is not connected with any insurance plan, that will explain Medicare options for you. The service is free, but an appointment is needed. Rather than insert a link, I will copy and paste the post that was published October 30, 2024. I have confirmed that the links from the 2024 post are still accurate and active.
Medicare: PA MEDI Helps Explain Plans
By Gail K. Kachnycz on 25 October 2024
If you are caring for someone with chronic illness, you may be dealing with insurance provided by Medicare. This government health insurance is available to those over 65 years, but in some cases may be available to people under 65. For example, my husband Mike was eligible for Medicare after he had been on long-term disability for two years, even though he was younger than 65 years.
Open Enrollment, that is, the opportunity to change coverage options, is occurring now. From October 15 through December 7, changes can be made which will be active starting January 1 of the upcoming year. Media advertisements and direct mailings offer a dizzying number of plans. Processing this overwhelming amount of information can be confusing. However, there is help that is not biased or promoting a specific insurance agency or plan. PA MEDI (Medicare Education and Decision Insight Program) is a statewide service operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging through the state’s Area Agencies on Aging. The program offers free, unbiased, confidential counseling regarding Medicare enrollment and selection of plans. An appointment is needed. The ideal time to contact this organization is three months before a person’s 65 th birthday, when they are first eligible for Medicare. Help during Open Enrollment is also available. Another time when the plan can be changed is after a “qualifying event.” Examples include (but are not limited to) getting married, moving to a new area, or experiencing a shift in employment status.
There are two service providers in Philadelphia:
215-456-7600 Einstein Medical Center (now part of the Jefferson system)
215-545-5728 Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders (CARIE)
There is a Helpline for those who do not live in Philadelphia:
1-800-783-7067 PA MEDI Helpline; toll free, call weekdays 8 AM to 5 PM
More information is available on the website of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Select “Services,” “Community & Connection,” then “Medicare Help for Older Philadelphians through PA MEDI” or use the direct link:
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