Medicare Open Enrollment 2025
Resources
- Social Security – Visit the Social Security Administration’s website to enroll in “my Social Security” to manage your benefits, get answers to your questions with their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page, and more. Manage benefits at SSA.gov.
- Free Medicare Consulting – Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) is a free program offering Kansans an opportunity to talk with trained community volunteers and get answers to questions about Medicare and other insurance issues. SHICK provides many resources to help you with your questions about Medicare. Call SHICK at 800-860-5260.
- Medicare Plan Finder: Medicare.gov/plan-compare
- Medicare Savings Program: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/medicare-savings-programs
- Extra help with Medicare Drug Plan costs:https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/costs-in-the-coverage-gap/5-ways-to-get-help-with-prescription-costs
- Medicare & You Handbook: Medicare.gov/publications/10050-Medicare-and-You.PDF
Doc’s Tips
- Check your annual notice and identify any changes. If you are happy with your plan, be hesitant to change.
- Avoid late enrollment penalties with Part D by enrolling at the same time as you enroll in Medicare. (If you are unsure if you need to sign up for Part D, check with Medicare or a SHICK advisor.)
- Beware of brokers and remember they are paid to switch your plan. For unbiased advice, go directly to Medicare or SHICK.
- Be cautious of Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offering “free benefits” to entice you, out-of-state insurers, insurers you don’t recognize, and deals that seem too good to be true. However, if you are already on a Medicare Advantage plan and like it, I would encourage you not to change it.
- If you have doubts, be sure to contact your healthcare provider for their expert opinion. My office is always here to help as well.
Need additional help?
Call 1-800-633-4227 for personalized counseling from experts available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also speak with experts at the Senior Health Insurance Counselors for Kansas at 1-800-633-4227. Both are free and offer unbiased one-on-one counseling.
