Medicare 2026

SHIP and Licensed Agents: Medicare Guidance in Racine

In Racine, Medicare choices can feel like a lot to sort through — especially when the mail piles up each fall and the phone starts ringing. The good news: you don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to guess who's giving you straight answers. Racine has free, unbiased help available, plus licensed agents who can walk you through your options.

Here's where to turn when you have questions.

Start with SHIP — it's free and unbiased

Wisconsin's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is called the Wisconsin Medigap Helpline and the Wisconsin SHIP program, funded in part by the federal government. SHIP counselors don't sell insurance. They don't earn commissions. Their job is to help you understand your Medicare choices so you can decide what fits your situation.

You can reach Wisconsin SHIP help through:

• Wisconsin Medigap Helpline: 1-800-242-1060
• Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Racine County: 262-833-8777. The ADRC is often your closest local point of contact for benefits counseling, including Medicare.
• Medicare.gov's SHIP locator: medicare.gov/talk-to-someone

SHIP is a good first stop if you're new to Medicare, comparing Original Medicare with Medicare Advantage, sorting out Part D drug coverage, or reviewing whether your current plan still fits.

What licensed agents and brokers do

Licensed insurance agents are another option, and many people in Racine use them. An agent is appointed by one or more insurance carriers and can enroll you in a plan. A broker typically represents several carriers.

A few things to know:

• Agents are paid by the insurance company, not by you.
• Not every agent sells every plan. If they only represent two or three carriers, they can only show you those.
• Ask upfront which carriers they're licensed with, so you know how wide their view is.
• A reputable agent will explain trade-offs, not push a single plan.

You can find licensed agents through carrier websites, community referrals, or by searching medicare.gov's Plan Finder, which lets you compare plans on your own before you even call anyone.

What's available in Racine County

Racine is in Racine County, where CMS listed 52 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, offered by 8 carriers that include prescription drug coverage. There were no stand-alone Part D plans reported in the county's landscape data for 2026, so most drug coverage in the area comes bundled inside a Medicare Advantage plan or through Original Medicare paired with other options. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

With more than 35,000 residents age 65 and up in the county, that's a lot of neighbors working through the same questions you are.

Star Ratings, published by CMS, are one tool to compare quality — but they change year to year and shouldn't be the only factor you weigh. SHIP counselors can explain what the ratings measure.

Key dates and 2027 figures to keep in mind

Two enrollment windows matter most:

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

For 2026, Part D has a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs and a maximum deductible of $615. The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, so drug coverage now moves through three phases instead of four. If drug costs hit hard early in the year, ask about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread payments across the calendar year.

Higher-income beneficiaries should also know about IRMAA — extra premium amounts that begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

How to decide who to call first

A simple rule of thumb:

• If you want an unbiased explanation of how Medicare works and how your options compare, start with SHIP or the ADRC of Racine County.
• If you've done your homework and are ready to enroll or compare specific plans, a licensed agent can walk you through applications.
• If you want to compare plans yourself, medicare.gov's Plan Finder is the official tool. It shows every plan available at your ZIP code.
• For general Medicare questions any time of day, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).