Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Is Still Ongoing

The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period kicked off on October 15 and will run through December 7. This is a great opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries to review their current plans and make changes if needed.

During this time, beneficiaries can:

• Switch from Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, or vice versa.

• Join, drop, or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another (with or without prescription coverage).

• Join, drop, or switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Medicare Part D) to another if enrolled in Original Medicare.

Any changes made during this period will take effect on January 1, 2026.

The Alabama State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) continues to offer free, unbiased counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on plan selection and comparison. We understand how busy you are and encourage you to refer patients who may benefit from these services to SHIP. You can reach SHIP at 1-800-243-5463 or visit AlabamaAgeLine.gov/helpservices/

As part of our commitment to patient care, pharmacy students from Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy, in collaboration with SHIP counselors visited the Opelika Sportsplex on October 22^nd and November 5 to assist beneficiaries with Medicare plan reviews and selections. Seeing patients find plans with better coverage and cost savings and the joy it brought them was truly rewarding. We encourage you to take part in this process by talking with your patients about SHIP and their Medicare plans and supporting them as they take the next step toward choosing the right coverage.