Medicare 2026

Before You Call an Agent, Try ServiceLink First

Hudson, N.H. — If you live in Hudson and feel buried by Medicare mailers, TV ads, and cold calls, you are not alone. The good news: there are people trained to answer your questions without trying to sell you anything, and there are also licensed agents who can walk you through specific plans. Knowing the difference is the first step to getting help you can trust.

Start with SHIP — it's free and unbiased

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). In New Hampshire, SHIP services are delivered through ServiceLink Resource Centers, a statewide network funded in part by the federal Administration for Community Living. Counselors are trained volunteers and staff who do not sell insurance and do not earn commissions.

The ServiceLink office that serves Hudson residents is located in Nashua, just a short drive down Route 3A. You can reach the statewide ServiceLink line at 1-866-634-9412 and ask to be connected to the Greater Nashua office. Appointments are typically free, and counselors can help by phone, in person, or sometimes at community events.

SHIP counselors can help you:

• Understand the difference between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D.
• Review your prescription drug list and compare coverage on the medicare.gov Plan Finder.
• Screen you for programs like Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, and Medicaid.
• Sort out billing problems or denied claims.

What licensed agents and brokers actually do

Licensed insurance agents and brokers can be genuinely helpful — especially if you want to compare specific Medicare Advantage or Part D plans side by side. They must be licensed by the New Hampshire Insurance Department and appointed by the carriers whose plans they sell.

A few honest things to know:

• Agents are paid commissions by insurance companies when you enroll. That is legal and disclosed, but it means they can only offer plans from carriers they are contracted with.
• An "independent" broker usually represents several carriers; a "captive" agent represents one.
• CMS rules require agents to complete a Scope of Appointment before discussing Medicare Advantage or Part D with you. If someone skips that step, that is a red flag.

If you'd like a broader view before meeting with an agent, start with SHIP first, then talk with an agent about the specific plans on your short list.

What's available in the Hudson area

Plan availability is set at the county level. Hudson is in Hillsborough County, where CMS listed 19 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, offered by 4 carriers with Medicare Advantage prescription drug coverage. There were 0 stand-alone Part D plans shown in the county's landscape file for 2026, which means most people who want drug coverage will get it bundled inside a Medicare Advantage plan or another Medicare-approved option. The 2027 lineup is spelled out in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

About 73,800 Hillsborough County residents are 65 or older, so demand for good local guidance is real. None of the contracts serving the area currently carry a CMS Star Rating of 4 or higher in this year's data — that is a fact worth discussing with a counselor, not a reason to panic.

Program changes worth knowing before you meet with anyone

Bring these facts with you to any Medicare conversation:

• 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 calendar year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can ask your Part D plan to spread your drug costs into level monthly payments across the year. It doesn't lower the total, but it smooths the bill.
• IRMAA surcharges for higher-income beneficiaries begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• Annual Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan. 1 – March 31.

Red flags when someone offers "Medicare help"

Not every caller has your best interest at heart. Be cautious if someone:

• Pressures you to enroll on the spot or "before the deadline tonight."
• Asks for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details out of the blue.
• Claims to be "from Medicare" or "with the government." Medicare rarely calls you first.
• Promises benefits — like extra cash cards or grocery allowances — without checking whether you qualify or live in a service area.

If something feels off, hang up and call ServiceLink or 1-800-MEDICARE. You can also report suspected fraud to New Hampshire's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) through the same ServiceLink line.