WEEKLY UPDATE: 10/15/26
Medicare Open Enrollment began today, October 15, giving residents with Medicare an opportunity to review their health and prescription drug coverage and make changes for 2027. The enrollment period runs through December 7.
During this time, beneficiaries can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA), change Medicare Advantage plans, or join, switch, or drop Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, depending on their current coverage. Changes made during open enrollment take effect January 1, 2027.
Beneficiaries should review their plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and carefully compare plan costs, benefits, provider networks, and prescription drug coverage for 2027. Given changes in Medicare Advantage plan offerings and provider networks, it is particularly important this year to confirm that preferred doctors and hospitals will continue to participate in their plan and that their pharmacies and prescription medications will remain covered.
Free Medicare Counseling in Connecticut
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) provide free, unbiased, personalized Medicare counseling to help people who have Medicare, as well as their families and caregivers, navigate enrollment options. Connecticut’s SHIP, called CHOICES (Connecticut Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Information and Referral, Counseling, and Eligibility Screening), is a partnership between the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS), the five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), and the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA).
CHOICES offers the following services:
- Free, one-on-one help with all parts of Medicare, including Part A (hospital), Part B (medical), Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Part D (prescription drug coverage)
- Help signing up for plans and comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans
- Assistance determining eligibility for programs that lower costs, like Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), and Extra Help
- Information about Medicare’s preventive services, like check-ups and screenings
- Help finding other state programs and long-term care services
- Education for providers and caregivers
Connecticut residents can contact CHOICES at 1-800-994-9422 or visit the CHOICES website to learn more and find local assistance. Click here for the 2026 Connecticut Guide to Medicare Open Enrollment.
Beneficiaries can also use the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare.gov Plan Compare tool or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Original Medicare Versus Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare, also known as Traditional Medicare, is a federal health insurance program that includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Beneficiaries can generally visit any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare, and they can purchase a separate Part D plan for prescription drug coverage. Original Medicare does not have an annual out-of-pocket spending limit for covered services, so some beneficiaries purchase supplemental insurance, called Medigap, to help pay out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, is an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These plans provide Part A and Part B coverage and often include prescription drug coverage (Part D), along with additional benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing services. Medicare Advantage plans typically have provider networks, may require referrals or prior authorization for certain services, and include an annual limit on out-of-pocket costs for covered Part A and Part B services.
Click here for a comparison chart from the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
