Medicare Mail Is Arriving. You Don’t Have to Sort It Out Alone.
Updated: Sep 26
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The Medicare mail can start piling up long before you’re ready to make a decision. A bigger pile doesn’t make the choice clearer.
Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. For the 2026 enrollment window, changes generally take effect January 1, 2027. You can use the time before October 15 to get your questions and current coverage information together.
Florida’s SHINE program offers free, unbiased, confidential health insurance counseling. It serves Medicare beneficiaries, families and caregivers, so the person helping organize the paperwork can ask for guidance as well.
Start with your medicines, preferred pharmacy, doctors and current plan information. Medicare recommends checking prescription coverage, provider and pharmacy networks, and costs beyond the monthly premium. If you spend part of the year outside Florida, ask about coverage there, too.
Bring up any employer or retiree coverage before changing plans. Medicare advises talking with the benefits administrator or other insurer before making a change that could affect existing coverage.
You don’t need to make a decision during a sales call. Use SHINE’s contact form or call 800-963-5337 and ask to connect with a SHINE counselor.
The point isn’t to become an insurance expert by October. It’s to understand the choice you’re actually making.
Sources
Medicare.gov: Joining a plan — annual enrollment October 15–December 7; 2026 elections generally effective January 1, 2027.
