Medicare 2026

SHIP counselors and licensed agents for Thousand Oaks Medicare

Thousand Oaks residents have plenty of Medicare choices — and plenty of questions. Whether you're new to Medicare, weighing changes during a busy enrollment window, or just trying to understand a letter from your plan, you don't have to figure it out alone. Free, unbiased help is available locally, and licensed agents can walk you through options too. Here's how to tell them apart and use each one well.

Start with SHIP — in California, it's called HICAP

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that gives free Medicare counseling. In California, it's known as HICAP — the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. HICAP counselors are trained volunteers and staff who don't sell insurance and don't earn commissions. That means their guidance is unbiased.

Ventura County residents, including those in Thousand Oaks, can reach HICAP through the county's Area Agency on Aging. Counselors can help you compare plans on Medicare.gov, understand a denial or bill, look into Medicare Savings Programs or Extra Help, and sort out Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage.

When a licensed agent or broker can help

Licensed insurance agents are another option. Unlike HICAP, agents are paid by the plans they represent, so they can only enroll you in plans they're contracted with. That's not a bad thing — a good agent explains options clearly, handles paperwork, and stays available year after year. It's just important to know the difference.

If you use an agent, ask:

• Which carriers are you appointed with?
• Will you review my doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions before recommending anything?
• Are you available after enrollment if I have a claim or coverage question?

You can also call carriers directly, or use Medicare's Plan Finder at medicare.gov to browse on your own.

What's available in the Thousand Oaks area

Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level. Thousand Oaks is in Ventura County, where CMS lists 22 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, with 7 carriers offering Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) coverage. Compared with 2026, 8 plans are not returning, 6 are new, and 11 have been renamed; 14 continuing plans change something in their terms (details are in each plan's ANOC). That's a lot to sort through, which is exactly why free counseling exists.

With around 145,793 residents age 65 and over in Ventura County, demand for appointments picks up quickly in the fall. If you want help before Dec. 7, call early.

Key numbers worth knowing for 2027

Whether you talk to 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 in covered drug costs, you pay nothing more for the rest of the year on covered Part D drugs.
• Part D deductible: up to $615 maximum in 2026 and up to $700 maximum in 2027 (plans can set it lower).
• Coverage gap: the old "donut hole" was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional program that spreads your yearly drug costs into monthly payments.
• IRMAA: higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

Enrollment windows to circle on your calendar

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect Jan. 1.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): Jan. 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).

Missing these windows usually means waiting a full year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

How to decide who to call first

A simple rule of thumb:

• If you want a neutral second opinion, or you're comparing Original Medicare with Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage, start with HICAP.
• If you already know what you want and need help enrolling and servicing the policy, a licensed local agent can be a good fit.
• For anything about your specific Medicare record, premiums, or claims, call 1-800-MEDICARE or use your account at medicare.gov.

Many people use a combination — HICAP for education, then an agent or medicare.gov to enroll.