News & Media

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT STARTS OCTOBER 15

AUGUST 29, 2018 (Scarborough, ME) – Now is the time to make plans to review your Medicare Drug Plans or Medicare Advantage plans. Mainers on Medicare are advised to make an appointment with their local Area Agency on Aging to review their options for 2019, because premiums and benefits may change.

Our staff and volunteers are fully-trained, certified SHIP counselors that can help you to navigate Medicare and the complexity in choosing drug plans with deductibles, copays and falling into the coverage gap (the so called the “donut hole”). This process can be confusing, time consuming, and involving many steps (including using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid website)—let SMAA help. Last year SMAA counselors helped save clients an estimated $577,000 on their Medicare plan costs!

Any changes to Medicare Drug Plans or Medicare Advantage Plans need to be made during Medicare’s Open Enrollment period, which begins October 15 and ends December 7.

SMAA is offering Open Enrollment sessions in 15 locations throughout Southern Maine; please see the list below. Appointments are required and fill quickly—sign up today! Some evening appointments are available. To schedule an appointment, starting September 4, call at 396-6524, or statewide, toll-free 877-353-3771. For the Bridgton Community Center please call 647-3116 directly FMI.

1-on-1 Appointment Locations
Biddeford, Cohen Center
Bridgton Community Center - please call 647-3116 FMI
Falmouth, Stewart Center
Freeport Community Library
Kennebunk, St. Martha’s Church
Kennebunk Senior Center
Saco, Dyer Library
Sanford, Goodall Memorial Library
Scarborough, Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA)
Waterboro
Westbrook Community Center
Windham, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
Yarmouth, Merrill Memorial Library
York Hospital

2019 Medicare Open Enrollment Dates
Dates and deadlines you need to know:

October 15, 2018 – Open Enrollment Begins
This is the first day you can enroll for 2018 health coverage or make changes to your 2019 plans.

December 7, 2018 – Open Enrollment Ends
This is the last day you can enroll for 2018 health coverage or make changes to your 2019 plans.

January 1, 2019 – First Date Coverage Can Start
Even if you enroll in Medicare or make changes to your coverage during open enrollment these changes won’t go into effect until January 1, 2019.

SMAA is a nonprofit that relies on donations in order to meet its mission. While there is no charge for SMAA’s 1-on-1 Medicare Appointments, donations are welcome and are greatly appreciated. With programs like SHIP facing potentially large cuts in funding on the national and local levels, your donation will help to ensure that SMAA is able to continue providing unbiased information for many open enrollment periods to come.