Medicare open enrollment period starts Oct. 15

Pennsylvania Department of Aging officials are reminding older adults that the annual Medicare open enrollment period begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7.

Any new coverage selected or changes to existing benefits will take effect Jan. 1.

During the open enrollment period, new Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage and health plans to complement Medicare, and current Medicare beneficiaries can review and join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage to adjust to their needs.

Officials said free, objective health benefits counseling through Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight, also known as PA MEDI, is available at Pennsylvania’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging.

Those counselors can assist with comparing plans, enrolling in a new plan and evaluating eligibility for any of the state’s Medicare cost-savings programs, such as PACE/PACENET and Extra Help.

Changes to Medicare in 2026 include a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs, an optional prescription payment plan to spread out drug costs, and price reductions for 10 medications based on negotiations and agreements between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and participating drug companies, officials said.

More information about PA MEDI, events and programs, or volunteering is available at the department’s website; calling the PA MEDI Helpline at 1-800-783-7067, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; or calling your local Area Agency on Aging.

Source: Berkshire mont