Leon King has volunteered as a free local counselor for Medicare beneficiaries for more than five years. One of the biggest mistakes made by those he helps is when they miss the Annual Notice of Change. Missing those notices, which will start arriving in the mail this month, could create big problems next year, he said.
“A lot of people just ignore those notices,” said King who volunteers with SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs operated locally by ElderSource. “When we ask people if they received the letter, they often don’t even remember seeing it. It looks like junk mail and many people miss it.”
This year’s notices are expected to reflect changes that may affect Medicare Part D prescription drug plan premiums: a premium stabilization subsidy that had helped limit premium increases will not continue at the same level for 2027. Some beneficiaries could see higher Part D premiums. However, specific impacts will not be known until beneficiaries receive their annual notices.
“Beneficiaries may see changes in their Medicare prescription drug costs for 2027,” King said. “Medicare recipients should carefully review their drug plan each year, as premiums, costs, formularies and other plan features can change from one year to the next.”
King, a 75-year-old retiree who previously worked at Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and as a local elementary school teacher, began serving as a SHINE volunteer in 2019. During the Annual Open Enrollment Period, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 this year, he and other trained and certified local SHINE counselors field questions from about 10 beneficiaries each day who call ElderSource’s Helpline seeking assistance. The free phone counseling sessions last from a few minutes to sometimes more than an hour.
“Some people just need to be pointed in a certain direction,” he said. “Others, we need to walk them through the whole process. Some don’t have computer access, so we need to help them review their options. I’ve saved people a lot of money many times. The premiums on drug plans can range from $0 to $100 a month, and the copays can vary greatly. I’ve helped save some people more than $500 a year.”
Many low-income Medicare beneficiaries don’t realize they qualify for federal assistance programs, he said. “When someone is barely getting by, we can help them sign up for these programs. They can save people a lot of money.”
Sometimes, however, SHINE counselors must relay less pleasant information.
“When we are looking at the assistance programs for a person who is barely surviving, and we have to tell them that their income is over the limit,” he said. “That’s a hard thing to do. We really share their frustrations.”
Those frustrations are offset by a lot of rewarding appreciation, King said he and his fellow SHINE counselors regularly receive.
“It’s very rewarding work because most people we help are appreciative of the service,” he said. “Some of them know I’m a volunteer, and they are even more thankful.”
An important part of being a SHINE volunteer is staying informed about Medicare changes, which King says are constant.
“We have ongoing training all the time,” he said. “We must keep up with the changes. We started with a firm foundation of knowledge about the rules and regulations, and we work hard to understand the needs of our clients. Those needs can vary between some people who have a very low income and others with very comfortable retirements, even some who are still working. We work with a wide range of clients, and everyone we talk to says the process is very confusing.”
Medicare beneficiaries with questions or concerns about the Open Enrollment Period can call ElderSource’s free Helpline at 888-242-4464. Staff at the nonprofit agency will route the calls to the SHINE office for assignment to a local counselor.
