Medicare 2026

Livermore Medicare help: SHIP counseling and licensed agents

Livermore, Calif. — Sorting through Medicare choices can feel like a full-time job. Between mailers, TV ads, and phone calls, it's hard to know who is actually looking out for you. The good news: Livermore residents have access to free, unbiased Medicare counseling — and they also have plenty of licensed help nearby when they're ready to compare plans.

Here's where to turn locally, and how to tell the difference between neutral guidance and a sales conversation.

Start with SHIP — California calls it HICAP

Every state has a federally funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that gives free, one-on-one Medicare help. In California, it's called the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, or HICAP.

HICAP counselors are trained volunteers and staff who don't sell insurance and don't earn commissions. They can help you:

• Understand how Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap fit together.
• Compare plans on Medicare.gov using your own doctors and prescriptions.
• Check whether you qualify for Extra Help, Medi-Cal, or a Medicare Savings Program.
• Appeal a coverage denial or sort out a billing problem.

For Livermore, HICAP services are provided through the Alameda County HICAP, run by Legal Assistance for Seniors. You can reach California HICAP statewide at 1-800-434-0222 to be connected with the closest counselor.

What licensed agents and brokers can do

Once you understand your options, a licensed insurance agent can actually enroll you in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. This is a legitimate and useful service — but it works a little differently than SHIP.

• Agents are paid commissions by the insurance companies whose plans they sell.
• "Captive" agents represent one carrier. "Independent" brokers usually represent several, but rarely all.
• A good agent will ask about your doctors, medications, and travel habits before recommending anything.

If you meet with an agent, CMS rules require them to have your permission before contacting you and before discussing specific plans. You should never feel pressured. If you do, walk away — and consider calling HICAP for a second opinion.

What's available in the Livermore area

Livermore is in Alameda County, where 22 Medicare Advantage plans are offered for 2027, spread across 10 carriers that provide Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage. The county is home to more than 254,000 residents age 65 and older, so demand for good information is high.

Stand-alone Part D drug plans are also sold in California, though the plan mix changes each year. Medicare.gov's Plan Finder is the official place to see current options for your ZIP code.

Key numbers to know for 2026 and 2027

Whether you meet with HICAP or an agent, these program-level facts apply to everyone:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that, covered drug costs are fully covered for the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional way to spread your drug costs across monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Important dates

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch once or return to Original Medicare.

How to spot unbiased help

A few quick tests before you sit down with anyone:

• Are they selling something? SHIP/HICAP does not. Agents do.
• Do they show you all your options? Even independent brokers may not represent every carrier in Alameda County.
• Do they explain trade-offs? Any honest advisor will talk about networks, prior authorizations, and drug tiers — not just monthly premiums.
• Do they respect your pace? Enrollment decisions should never feel rushed.