With the Medicare open enrollment period underway, older adults looking to change their existing Medicare plan can receive free, personalized assistance through the Illinois Department on Aging’s (IDoA) Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
Illinois SHIP Director Sandy Leith says it is that time of year where people with Medicare will encounter numerous advertisements about the various Medicare Health and Drugs plans for 2027. Don’t go it alone, Leith says let them put your mind at ease when you discuss your options with a certified SHIP counselor and make an educated choice.
During open enrollment, which runs through Dec. 7, people who are already enrolled in Medicare have the opportunity to review their current coverage and switch to a different plan for the following year.
To make this process easier for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers, Illinois’ SHIP program offers statewide health insurance counseling services through a network of 300 sites and 1,000 trained and certified counselors. Illinois has trained 200 new SHIP counselors over the past year, and all counselors have received additional training on how to assist you during Open Enrollment.
SHIP counselors can answer questions about Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans such as HMOs and PPOs, Medicare Part D drug plans, Medicare Supplement policies, Retiree Group Insurance, and other health insurances. All services are free, and SHIP counselors do not sell or solicit any type of insurance.
Aside from open enrollment assistance, SHIP counselors can also help soon-to-be eligible individuals with Medicare sign-up questions. To find a SHIP counselor near you, call the statewide Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 from 8:30 to five weekdays or email AGING.SHIP@illinois.gov. For general information about the SHIP program, please visit https://ilaging.illinois.gov/ship.html. You can also compare details of Medicare plans at https://www.medicare.gov/.
