Medicare 2026

OSHIIP or a Licensed Agent: Which Fits Your Question?

OSHIIP or a Licensed Agent: Which Fits Your Question? — plain-language Medicare information for Huber Heights, Ohio.

If you live in Huber Heights and Medicare feels like a maze, you are not alone. With Annual Enrollment running October 15 through December 7, this is the season when questions pile up fast — about drug costs, plan choices, and whether you are missing something important. The good news: you have two clear paths to real help, and one of them is completely free.

What SHIP is, and why it matters

SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program. In Ohio, it operates as the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, or OSHIIP. It is funded by the federal government and staffed by trained counselors and volunteers who do not sell insurance and do not earn commissions.

That independence matters. An OSHIIP counselor can walk you through how Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap fit together — without steering you toward any one company. They can also help you check eligibility for programs that lower costs, like Extra Help and the Medicare Savings Programs.

To reach OSHIIP, call 1-800-686-1578 or visit insurance.ohio.gov and look for the OSHIIP section. Local senior centers and libraries in the Dayton area often host counseling appointments during Open Enrollment, too.

When a licensed agent makes sense

Licensed agents and brokers serve a different role. They are appointed to sell products from specific carriers, and they can quote plans, enroll you, and stay on as your point of contact throughout the year. A good agent is upfront about which carriers they represent and which they do not.

If you already know you want to compare Medicare Advantage or Part D options side by side, an independent agent who works with several carriers can save you time. Just ask two simple questions first: Which companies are you appointed with? And how are you paid?

What's actually available in the area

Plan availability is set at the county level. Huber Heights is in Montgomery County, where residents had 101 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from for 2026, offered by 15 different carriers. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Stand-alone Part D options are counted separately by CMS. With nearly 99,611 people age 65 and older in the county, this is a well-covered market — which is a blessing and a burden. More choices mean more comparing.

Key program figures for 2026 and 2027

A few program-wide figures apply no matter which plan you pick:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap drops to $2,100 in 2026. Once you hit that, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The Part D deductible cannot exceed $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases, not four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments — it's optional and free to join.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Dates worth circling

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. Join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you are already on an MA plan, you can make one change during this window.