Medicare Supplement

Medicare Help in Lincoln: Free SHIP Guidance and Local Options

LINCOLN, Neb. — If you live in Lincoln and feel lost in the alphabet soup of Medicare, you're in good company. With nearly 50,000 residents age 65 and older in Lancaster County, questions about Parts A, B, C, and D pile up fast — especially heading into 2026, when several rules are changing.

Lincoln seniors have more Medicare questions than ever — here's where to turn

The good news: you don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to pay for help. Lincoln has both free, unbiased counseling and licensed local agencies who can walk you through your choices.

Start with SHIP — free, unbiased, and local

Nebraska's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is the go-to free resource for one-on-one Medicare help. SHIP counselors don't sell insurance and don't work on commission. Their job is simply to explain your options so you can decide what fits.

In Nebraska, SHIP is called the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (Nebraska SHIIP), run through the Nebraska Department of Insurance. You can reach them at 1-800-234-7119, or find a local counselor at doi.nebraska.gov/shiip.

SHIP counselors can help you:

• Compare Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare
• Understand Part D drug coverage
• Check if you qualify for programs like Extra Help or the Medicare Savings Program
• Sort out billing questions or coverage denials

Licensed local agents are another option

If you prefer to work with a licensed insurance agent, Lincoln has plenty. Agents can explain plan details and enroll you, but keep in mind that most only sell certain carriers' products. It's smart to ask upfront which companies an agent represents.

For reference, Lancaster County currently has 41 Medicare Advantage plans available and 8 carriers offering Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage. On the stand-alone side, Nebraska has 11 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide, and anyone in Lancaster County with Original Medicare can join one of them — a counselor can walk you through the list.

What Star Ratings mean (and don't mean)

Medicare uses a 1-to-5 Star Rating system to measure plan quality — things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions. Under CMS's 2026 Star Ratings, 16 Medicare Advantage contracts offer plans in Lancaster County, 12 of them have a 2026 Star Rating, and 4 of those are rated 4 stars or higher. Ratings are one of several things to weigh alongside your doctors, your prescriptions, and what matters most to you. A SHIP counselor can help you read the ratings in context.

Big 2026 changes worth knowing

A few program-wide updates take effect in 2026:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100. Once you hit that amount in covered drug costs, you pay $0 for the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible maximum: $615. Plans can charge less, but not more.
• The donut hole is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments — optional, no interest.
• IRMAA surcharges (higher premiums for higher earners) start above $109,000 in income for single filers in 2026.

Mark these dates

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. This is when most people change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans.
• 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.

Missing these windows can lock you into a plan for the year, so put them on the fridge.