Medicare 2026

How SHIP and licensed agents help with Medicare in Charleston

If you live in Charleston and have questions about Medicare, you don't have to figure it out alone. West Virginia has trained counselors who will sit down with you — for free — and walk through your options. Licensed insurance agents are another route if you want help comparing and enrolling in a specific plan. Knowing the difference between the two can save you time and stress.

Start with WV SHIP for unbiased help

SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Every state has one, and West Virginia's is run through the Bureau of Senior Services. WV SHIP counselors are trained volunteers and staff who do not sell insurance and do not earn commissions. That means the guidance you get is focused on your situation, not a sales goal.

WV SHIP can help you:

• Understand the parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D)
• Compare Medicare Advantage and Medigap options side by side
• Review Part D drug coverage using Medicare's Plan Finder
• Check if you qualify for programs like Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program
• Sort out billing questions or appeals

You can reach WV SHIP at 1-877-987-4463 or find local counselors through the Bureau of Senior Services in Charleston.

When a licensed agent makes sense

Licensed insurance agents and brokers can also help you enroll. Unlike SHIP counselors, agents are paid by the insurance companies whose plans they sell. That's not a bad thing — a good agent knows their products well and can handle enrollment paperwork quickly. Just know that most agents only represent a limited number of carriers, so you may not see every option available in your area.

Before working with an agent, it's fair to ask:

• Which carriers do you represent?
• Are you licensed in West Virginia?
• Will you help me after I enroll if I have problems?

Both SHIP and licensed agents have a role. Many Charleston residents talk to SHIP first to understand their choices, then work with an agent to enroll.

What's available in the Charleston area

Charleston is in Kanawha County, where 52 Medicare Advantage plans were offered for 2026, with 8 carriers providing MA-PD (Medicare Advantage with drug coverage). The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. That's a lot to sort through, which is exactly why free counseling exists. With roughly 39,054 residents age 65 and older in the county, demand for help peaks each fall — so call early if you can.

2027 Medicare facts worth knowing

A few program-wide changes for 2027 are worth having in mind before any appointment:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy.
• IRMAA surcharges (higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income enrollees) begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

Key dates to circle

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

Outside those windows, you may still qualify for a Special Enrollment Period — for example, if you move or lose other coverage. SHIP can help you figure that out.