Medicare 2026

SHIP Counseling and Licensed Medicare Agents in Trumbull

TRUMBULL, Conn. — If your mailbox is overflowing with Medicare ads and your phone won't stop ringing, you're not alone. The good news: Trumbull residents have access to trained counselors who can walk you through your choices without trying to sell you anything.

Free, one-on-one Medicare help is closer than you think

Whether you're aging into Medicare, helping a parent sort through options, or reviewing your coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), knowing where to turn for honest guidance makes a real difference.

Start with CHOICES, Connecticut's SHIP program

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), funded by the federal government to give free, unbiased Medicare counseling. In Connecticut, it's called CHOICES — short for Connecticut's Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Counseling and Eligibility Services.

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

• Understand the differences between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D
• Compare drug plans using the Medicare Plan Finder
• Check whether you qualify for programs that help pay premiums or drug costs (like Extra Help or the Medicare Savings Program)
• Sort out billing problems or appeals

To reach CHOICES, call the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services at 1-800-994-9422. Counseling is free, confidential, and available by phone or in person.

Local senior resources in and around Trumbull

The Trumbull Senior Community Center on Priscilla Place is often the first stop for local Medicare questions. Staff can point you toward CHOICES counselors and community events during open enrollment season.

Nearby libraries and senior centers in Fairfield County occasionally host Medicare information sessions in the fall. These are educational — not sales presentations — and a good place to ask questions in a low-pressure setting.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7, for help directly from the federal government.

What a licensed agent or broker can — and can't — do

Licensed insurance agents and brokers are another option, and many people work with one. Here's what to know before you sit down with one:

• Agents are paid commissions by insurance companies, so they can only sell plans from carriers they're contracted with.
• A good agent should explain your options clearly, disclose which carriers they represent, and never pressure you.
• Under CMS rules, agents must get your permission (a "Scope of Appointment") before discussing specific plans.

If you use an agent, it's smart to also talk with a CHOICES counselor for a second, unbiased opinion — especially if something in the sales pitch feels off.

What's available in Fairfield County

Trumbull is in Fairfield County, where 36 Medicare Advantage plans were offered for 2026 through 6 carriers, according to CMS Landscape data. Connecticut has 11 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide, and anyone in Fairfield County with Original Medicare can join one of them; Part D coverage is also widely available through Medicare Advantage plans that include drugs. For the 2027 lineup, check each plan's Annual Notice of Change and Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

Star Ratings, which CMS publishes each fall, are one tool to compare plan quality — but they're just one piece of the picture. A counselor can help you weigh ratings alongside your doctors, prescriptions, and budget.

Key numbers to keep in mind for 2027

A few program-wide facts worth knowing as you compare coverage:

• $2,100 — the new out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug spending in 2026
• $615 — the maximum Part D deductible a plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025; Part D now has three phases
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer (2026)