Maximize Your Benefits: Permian Basin Residents Have Help Navigating Medicare Open Enrollment

Every fall, the Medicare Open Enrollment Period offers a valuable opportunity for older Americans to review and refine their Medicare coverage for the coming year. And every fall, Medicare enrollees either neglect to make changes to their coverage or struggle through the complex language of the healthcare system, hoping they’ve made the best selections for their current situation. 

This year’s Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7.

Medicare Open Enrollment can be challenging at the best of times, and with insurer cutbacks, plan changes, and higher-than-typical cost increases expected for 2026, this year has taken on added importance. Fortunately, the Area Agency on Aging of the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission offers a support system designed to help older individuals in the region make confident, informed decisions about their healthcare needs. 

Using funding from the Older Americans Act, the AAA serves as a focal point for the region’s older residents, providing services designed to help seniors increase their independence while supporting their overall well-being. Those services include a network of senior centers throughout the region, connections to resources designed to support seniors and caregivers, and, crucially, counseling to help seniors navigate their Medicare benefits and make Open Enrollment more manageable. 

What is Open Enrollment? 

Medicare plans are not set-and-forget. Health needs evolve as people age, and plan designs, premiums, provider networks, and other elements of Medicare coverage can all change from one year to the next. Open Enrollment offers an annual opportunity for millions of Medicare enrollees to review, adjust, and optimize their coverage, ensuring it remains the best choice for their needs. Without this review, enrollees risk being locked into a plan that is less beneficial, more expensive, or unable to provide access to preferred providers or medications.

This year in particular promises significant changes. Premiums for Medicare Part B, which covers services including doctor visits, preventive care, medical equipment, and lab tests, are expected to increase from approximately $185 in 2025 to $206.50 in 2026. For prescription drug plans covered under Medicare Part D, premiums may increase by up to $50.  At the same time, Part B deductibles are expected to increase by 12% to $288 and Part D deductibles will increase by an average of 4.2%. 

In addition to increased costs, seniors may have fewer options for their Medicare coverage. Major insurers, including UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Aetna, are making significant cuts to their Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, meaning plans may no longer offer the same coverage they once did and may not be available at all. 
With many seniors living on a fixed income, understanding and accounting for these changes will be particularly important. 

AAA offers a support system

Fortunately, making sense of these changes doesn’t require an intricate knowledge of Medicare’s more obscure details. It just requires a phone call. The AAA connects residents to expert advisors who will work with Medicare enrollees to understand their current coverage, explore available options and help ensure residents have the coverage that best meets their needs. 

When Permian Basin residents call the AAA at 563-1061 or 1-800-491-4636, they will be connected to an information and referral specialist who will collect information, including their current Medicare enrollment, list of medications, preferred pharmacy and household income. They will then match enrollees with a certified benefits counselor who will connect with the enrollee to discuss their options. Those advisors will also help determine whether residents are eligible for low-income subsidies to help cover their Medicare expenses. 

Making sound decisions

Despite the importance of optimizing Medicare coverage, an estimated 7 in 10 enrollees do not compare their options during Open Enrollment, which may result in higher premiums and unexpected gaps in coverage. Taking advantage of the Open Enrollment period to examine your current plan and compare it against available options – especially with the help of a skilled benefits counselor – can help enrollees ensure they have the coverage they need at the price that works for them. 

To learn more about how the AAA supports Medicare decision making in the Permian Basin, visit aaapb.com or call 432-563-1061.