What is SHIP and is it really free?

SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Programs) provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state. Counselors do not sell insurance. You can find yours through medicare.gov contacts or by searching for your state's SHIP program. Bring your drug list and current plan details to the appointment.

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AI Medicare decision companion

Medicare open enrollment for 2027 runs October 15 to December 7. Answer a few questions about your coverage, drugs, and doctors. Get personalized guidance built on verified CMS figures, plus a printable report you can take to a free SHIP counselor.

Figures verified against CMS 2026 release Draft autosaved on this device Printable SHIP counselor report Educational only, not insurance advice

1Pick your situationNew to Medicare, reviewing for 2027, switching paths, or helping a parent.

2Enter the factsCurrent coverage, ZIP, prescriptions, doctor priorities, budget. Takes 3 minutes.

3Get guidance + reportPersonalized 2027 path guidance on verified figures, then print the SHIP report.

Your situation

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ZIP code

Regular prescriptions

Keeping my doctors

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One or more expensive or specialty drugs I travel or live in two states during the year I have Medicaid or Extra Help (low-income subsidy)

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Not insurance advice. This is educational guidance built from your answers and verified national CMS figures. It does not recommend a specific plan or insurer. Confirm every number at medicare.gov and talk to a free SHIP counselor before you decide.

Verified CMS figures (2026)

Part B premium$202.90/mo

Part B deductible$283/yr

Part A deductible$1,736 / benefit period

Part D max deductible$615

Part D out-of-pocket cap$2,100/yr

Medigap Plan Gpays nearly all cost-sharing after the $283 deductible

Open enrollmentOct 15 – Dec 7, 2026

New coverage startsJan 1, 2027

Announced by CMS November 2025. 2027 figures arrive November 2026. The AI quotes these exact figures and never invents plan-specific costs.

Your guidance

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1. Pick your situation
2. Enter the facts
3. Hit Generate

SHIP counselor report

SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Programs) gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state. Build a one-page report of your answers, the verified figures, and your guidance, then print it for the appointment.

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Your 2027 open-enrollment checklist

Do this before December 7. Tap items as you finish them, progress saves on this device.

Read your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), mailed by September 30. Look for premium, deductible, formulary, and network changes.
Run your exact drug list through medicare.gov/plan-compare with your pharmacy, including tiers and total annual cost.
Confirm every doctor and specialist is still in-network for 2027 if you are in or considering an Advantage plan.
Compare total annual cost (premiums plus worst-case out-of-pocket), not just the monthly premium.
If you are considering leaving Advantage for Original Medicare plus Medigap, check your state's underwriting rules before you disenroll.
Book a free SHIP counseling appointment early in open enrollment, slots fill up. Bring this page's report.
Decide and enroll by December 7. Coverage starts January 1, 2027.

What actually matters

The underwriting window

Your one-time Medigap open enrollment period starts when you turn 65 and enroll in Part B. In most states that is the only time insurers must sell you any Medigap policy without medical underwriting. Wait, and they can charge more or deny you for health reasons. A few states have birthday rules or broader guaranteed-issue rights, check yours.

The quiet-year vs rough-year test

Judge every path on two numbers: a quiet year and a rough year. Advantage often wins the quiet year on premiums, then spikes to the plan's out-of-pocket maximum in a rough year. Original plus Medigap Plan G costs more every month but barely moves: after the $283 Part B deductible, cost-sharing is nearly zero either way.

The $2,100 drug cap

Part D now has a hard out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026. Once your covered drug spending hits it, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year. If you take expensive drugs, run your exact list through plan-compare. The cap is the single biggest protection the Inflation Reduction Act added.

Prior authorization is the real network

Advantage plans can require prior authorization before covering some services, and denials happen. Original Medicare has no prior authorization and no referrals. If you have ongoing specialist care, this matters more than the premium difference.

Late penalties are permanent

Delay Part B without creditable coverage and you pay 10% more for every full 12-month period you were late, for life. Delay Part D and you pay 1% of the base premium per month late, for life. If you are still working with employer coverage, confirm it counts as creditable before you delay.

SHIP is free and unbiased

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs counselors do not sell insurance and do not take commissions. They will walk through your ANOC, your drugs, and your options with no sales pitch. Find yours through medicare.gov or search for your state's SHIP. It is the one free second opinion worth getting.

Common questions

When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027 coverage?

October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027. If you miss it, the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (January 1 to March 31) lets people already in an Advantage plan switch plans or return to Original Medicare, but it does not help everyone.

What is the 2026 Medicare Part B premium and deductible?

CMS set the 2026 standard Part B premium at $202.90 per month and the annual Part B deductible at $283. The Part A hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. Higher earners pay more through IRMAA, based on 2024 tax returns.

Should I choose Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with Medigap?

It depends on your health, drugs, doctors, and budget. Advantage often costs less in a healthy year but restricts you to a network, uses prior authorization, and can hit a high out-of-pocket maximum in a bad year. Original plus Medigap Plan G costs more monthly but covers nearly all cost-sharing after the $283 deductible and works with any doctor who accepts Medicare nationwide. The tool above walks you through the tradeoffs for your situation.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap later?

You can switch during open enrollment, but in most states Medigap insurers can use medical underwriting once your initial open enrollment window has passed, meaning they can charge more or deny you based on health. A few states have birthday rules or broader guaranteed-issue protections. Decide with this in mind the first time.

Does Medicare cover dental, vision, and hearing?

Original Medicare does not routinely cover dental, vision, or hearing. Many Advantage plans bundle limited versions of these benefits. With Original Medicare you would buy separate coverage or pay out of pocket. If these matter to you, price them into the comparison.

What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2026?

$2,100 per year. Once your covered drug spending reaches the cap, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year. The maximum Part D deductible for 2026 is $615. Both come from the Inflation Reduction Act changes.

What happens if I do nothing during open enrollment?

If you are in Original Medicare, nothing changes and you keep your coverage. If you are in an Advantage or Part D plan, you are usually auto-renewed into next year's version of your plan, which may have different premiums, drugs covered, or doctors in-network. That is why reviewing the ANOC matters even when you plan to stay put.

What should I bring to a SHIP appointment?

Your Medicare card, a complete list of your prescriptions with dosages, your current plan details and ANOC, and the names of your doctors. The SHIP report on this page packages your situation, the verified figures, and your AI guidance into one printable page for the counselor.