Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity each year, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, to review insurance coverage and make sure that current plans will be the right ones for them in the coming year.

Why review your Medicare choices? Because your health may have changed or your plan may have different coverage in 2023, or there may be new plans available to you. How can you prepare for open enrollment? First, understand what insurance you currently have. To find out, look at your insurance cards to see what coverage you have and who provides it, or go to www.medicare.gov and log in to find out what coverage you are enrolled in.

Next, learn what your current plans will look like next year. The plans send you information each October on how their coverage will change next year. You can also look at the “Medicare and You” booklet that Medicare sends out each year.

To find out if there is a plan that may be better for you, use the Plan Finder on www.Medicare.gov. To use the Plan Finder, you’ll need to have a list of your prescription medications with their full name (including any letters that follow the name), the prescribed dosage and how much you take each day.

If you find all of this information a bit confusing and hard to understand, SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors ) volunteers are here to help you! If you would like to speak with a SHIBA volunteer email us at shibasjco@yahoo.com or call 360-376-5892.

There are volunteers available by Zoom Monday and Tuesday afternoons or in person at the Orcas Senior Center Tuesday through Friday. Volunteers will also be doing drop in enrollment sessions at the Orcas Library each Monday during open enrollment from 1-4.

The SHIBA program is part of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. SHIBA volunteers provide free and confidential counseling. In San Juan County SHIBA is sponsored by the Inter Island Healthcare Foundation.