If you are coming to sit with us next Friday, here is how to get the most out of the hour. And if you are still deciding, this is a fair look at exactly what you are walking into. No surprises, no pressure at the door.
What to bring. Honestly, not much. This is a general-education session, so there is nothing we need from you and nothing to fill out.
- Yourself, and your questions. Write them down before you come, because the good ones tend to hide the moment you sit down.
- If it helps you follow along, jot down the name of the plan you are on now, for your own reference. You do not have to, and we will not be reviewing or discussing anyone's specific plan or health information at the event.
If you are the adult child helping a parent through this, come too. Some of the most useful seats in the room every year belong to a son or daughter doing the homework so Mom or Dad does not have to do it alone.
What we will actually cover. Six things, in plain English, with no jargon we do not stop and explain:
- How Medicare works, start to finish.
- Supplement versus Advantage, and where Part D fits in.
- How to use the new Medicare.gov without getting lost.
- What Medicare.gov shows you, what it does not, and where the rest lives.
- How Medicare's enrollment periods and deadlines work, as general information, not a personal enrollment session.
- The Annual Enrollment Period, and what every key date means.
Then we open the floor for as long as the questions keep coming.
What we will not do. No specific plans, plan benefits, or plan sponsors will be discussed, and there are no enrollment applications to sign. This is an educational hour, on purpose. You are there to leave smarter, not signed up.
Why the timing matters. The official 2027 Medicare information comes out October 1. We are the very next day. That means for once you will be hearing about the year ahead from people who have the real numbers in hand, not a guess dressed up as a warning.
One honest note about seats. The library gave us 140 chairs in each room. When they are taken, they are taken. If both rooms fill, we will add a date rather than turn anyone away, but the ones on the calendar are the ones on the calendar. If you have been meaning to get informed about your options, this is the easy way to start.
Come get your facts.
Friday, October 2. Foothills Library, Glendale, 10:30 AM. Mustang Library, Scottsdale, 2:30 PM. No cost. Register at 123easymedicare.com/oct-workshop or call (877) 220-1089.
This event is presented by 123EasyMedicare, a brand of American Retirement Advisors, an independent, private organization. It is not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Social Security Administration, or any government agency. The libraries are not sponsors of, and are not affiliated with, this event. Educational only; not tax, legal, or insurance advice.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not sponsored, endorsed, or otherwise representative of Medicare or the federal Medicare program. American Retirement Advisors is not a government agency. For official Medicare information, visit medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).