It’s Medicare open enrollment season through Dec. 7, and the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) is offering free consultations to help people on Medicare Plan D or Advantage Plans choose the best coverage for their needs.

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Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and for those with certain disabilities or chronic conditions, regardless of income. During open enrollment, beneficiaries can choose from several plans — but since insurance companies often change premiums, copays, provider networks and covered medications each year, a plan that worked before might no longer be the best fit.

Medicare enrollment continues despite the federal government shutdown, CNBC reported. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services temporarily brought back all of its furloughed employees starting Monday, Oct. 27, to support open enrollment, according to ABC News.

Last year, out of 3,000 local residents who asked JABA to review their coverage, about 50% ended up changing a plan, said Randy Rodgers, manager of the Insurance Counseling Program. Together, that group saved about $4 million, he said. 

Changing a plan can also make a real difference in health outcomes, according to Rogers. “If people can’t afford their drugs, they don’t take their drugs, and then it’s a health problem,” he said. 

Take action

Schedule a free, confidential consultation on your Medicare coverage

Take advantage of a free consultation with one of JABA’s certified Medicare counselors before choosing your plan for 2026. Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Beneficiaries can schedule an appointment by calling 434-817-5248 to request a paper intake form or by filling out a contact form online.

This year, it’s particularly important for some people to evaluate their coverage because five plans are going away, said Rodgers. They are the Sigma and Anthem plans for Medicare Plan D and Sentra plans for Medicare Advantage.

The JABA program is part of the federally funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP).

JABA’s Insurance Counseling Program provides free, confidential and unbiased consultations with certified Medicare counselors. According to Rogers, it takes about a week between filling out an intake form and having a consultation scheduled, but he encouraged residents to act as soon as possible — JABA has already received hundreds of intake forms and is scheduling consultations for them now. 

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