Medicare Supplement

Where to Get Free, Unbiased Medicare Help in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. — With more than 87,000 residents age 65 and older, Greensboro is home to a large group of people making Medicare decisions each year. And with the Annual Enrollment Period running Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, the questions tend to pile up fast.

Greensboro seniors have real options for Medicare help

The good news: you don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to talk to a salesperson to get answers. Free, unbiased help is available right here in the Triad — and knowing where to look can save you hours of confusion.

Start with SHIIP — North Carolina's free counseling program

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). In North Carolina, it's called SHIIP — the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program, run by the N.C. Department of Insurance.

SHIIP counselors are trained volunteers. They do not sell insurance, earn commissions, or push any particular plan. Their job is simply to help you understand your choices.

They can help you:

• Compare Medicare Advantage and Part D options on Medicare.gov
• Understand Original Medicare, Medigap, and Part D differences
• Apply for programs that help pay costs (Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs)
• Sort out billing questions or a denied claim
• Review your current coverage during open enrollment

To reach SHIIP, call 1-855-408-1212 (toll-free) or visit ncshiip.com. In Greensboro, SHIIP counseling is often available through local senior centers and public libraries — call ahead to book a one-on-one appointment.

Licensed agents and brokers — what they do (and don't) do

Licensed insurance agents can also help you enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Unlike SHIIP, agents are paid by insurance companies when they enroll you, so their role is different — but that doesn't mean they can't be helpful.

A good agent will:

• Be licensed in North Carolina (you can verify at ncdoi.gov)
• Explain which carriers they represent (some represent many, some just one or two)
• Walk you through your prescriptions, doctors, and pharmacy preferences before recommending anything
• Never pressure you or ask for personal information over an unsolicited call

If an agent contacts you out of the blue — by phone, text, or door-knock — that's a red flag under Medicare's marketing rules. Hang up and report it.

What the Greensboro area looks like on paper

Greensboro sits in Guilford County, where 98 Medicare Advantage plans are available for 2026, offered by 12 carriers. That's a lot to sort through, which is one reason unbiased help matters.

North Carolina has 12 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide, and anyone in Guilford County with Original Medicare can join one of them; drug coverage can also come bundled inside Medicare Advantage plans (MA-PD). If you stay with Original Medicare and want drug coverage, a counselor or Medicare.gov can walk you through what's available statewide.

You may also see Medicare "Star Ratings" when comparing plans. Stars are a CMS quality measure — they're informational, not a recommendation, and ratings can change year to year.

Big 2026 changes worth asking about

A few program-wide updates are already in place and worth understanding before you sit down with anyone:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026. Once you hit that in covered drug costs, you pay $0 for the rest of the calendar year.
• Part D deductible: up to $615 maximum in 2026.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan — an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs into monthly payments rather than paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA — higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

Key dates to keep on the fridge

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Annual Enrollment Period. Change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the next year.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in an MA plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

Reader FAQ

Q: Is SHIIP really free? What's the catch? There's no catch. SHIIP is funded by federal and state grants and staffed largely by trained volunteers. Counselors are not allowed to sell you anything.

Q: I got a flyer that says "New Medicare benefits — call now." Should I? Be cautious. Medicare itself doesn't market to you that way. If you want to check on a benefit, call 1-800-MEDICARE or SHIIP directly — never a number from an unsolicited mailer.

Q: Can I use both a SHIIP counselor and an agent? Yes. Many people use SHIIP to understand their choices, then work with a licensed agent to enroll. They serve different purposes.

Q: I'm turning 65 next year. When should I start looking into this? About three months before your 65th birthday month. That's when your Initial Enrollment Period opens. A SHIIP counselor can walk you through the timeline.

Where to go from here

For personal answers about your situation, use the sources built for exactly that:

• Medicare.gov — the official plan finder and rulebook
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7 help
• SHIIP (North Carolina): 1-855-408-1212 or ncshiip.com
• N.C. Department of Insurance agent lookup: ncdoi.gov

Medicare is complicated on purpose — it has to cover a lot of different situations. But the help is out there, it's local, and much of it is free.