It’s that time of year again! 

If you have a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO, PPO), you should be mailed an information package by the end of September. It is important to understand and save this information because it explains the changes in your plan for 2022. Premiums, deductibles, co-pays, providers and the drugs covered by your plan can change significantly! This is important information and if you do not understand it, you should discuss it with your family or caregivers. 

During the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15th - December 7th), you will have a chance to CHANGE your plan for next year. SHINE Counselors can help you understand your plan changes, as well as other options you may have. Trained SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Everyone) volunteers can help you! They offer free, unbiased, confidential counseling on all aspects of health insurance to anyone on Medicare. 

Call your Senior Center and ask for a SHINE appointment. 

You can also call 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243- 4636), then press or say 3. Once you get the SHINE answering machine leave your name and number. A volunteer will call you back. You can also visit us on the internet at shinema.org 

“SHINE’S MEDICARE AND MORE”  PROGRAM - The Central MASS SHINE Program is now sponsoring a monthly Cable TV program called SHINE’s MEDICARE AND MORE”, we hope your local cable channel will pick it up. This program is designed to educate and update MEDICARE beneficiaries and their families on MEDICARE and other programs that can assist you with your health insurance needs. 

CENTRAL MASS SHINE WEBSITE - (our newly upgraded website: www.shinema.org) has valuable information on Medicare, Mass Health and links and information that can be a valuable resource.