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(FOX40.COM) — As the fight over cuts to Medicaid continues into the week of the government shutdown, open enrollment for Medicare is now underway.
Medicare Open Enrollment began on Wednesday, allowing individuals eligible for Medicare to compare 2026 coverage options to find the option that best fits their needs. However, this opportunity doesn’t last much longer, as the open enrollment period will end on Dec. 7.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said that Medicare beneficiaries should review and compare Medicare health and drug plans, especially this year, due to new changes on Medicare.gov.
FOX40 spoke with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who explained that these programs are “the social safety net gem of our nation, it works well, but you got a part to play as well.”
Oz said, “It’s open enrollment, which means that the next month and a half, you’re gonna have to look at these programs and make sure that they make sense for you because your health changes, the medications that you’re on might change, the program itself is changing from year to year.”
CMS data shows that 69 million Americans rely on Medicare services. While individuals may be concerned that the federal shutdown could affect the program’s services, Oz stated that “It shouldn’t be; the program is intact. No one is trying to change it. I am confident it will remain intact for the rest of our lifetime.”
“It’s yours, take advantage of it.” Oz advised eligible individuals to be proactive when looking at enrollment and explained, “No matter how much effort we put into making the program work better, you still have to engage us.”
Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE for help comparing plans and costs.
“You want to get informed right now,” Oz said. “The prices of some of these insurance programs have dropped. They have both for Medicare Advantage, but also the cost of your prescription medications. The premiums will have gone down in some instances. On average, they are going down, actually. So take advantage of those possible savings.”
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Emma Kidger
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