Every senior MUST review Medicare coverage during open enrollment, which runs from October 15 and December 7. There are no exceptions — even if you were perfectly happy with your coverage in 2026. For sure there will be changes for 2027.

In a recent column, I explained that not only are traditional Medicare Part B premiums rising, but costs and coverage for Part D drugs will undergo big revisions in 2027 as well.

And Advantage programs are undergoing massive changes in pricing and networks — if your current plan even continues to exist in 2027.

Getting trusted help

The big question is where to get trusted help in making decisions now. It’s not just a question of price, since the plans cost the same wherever you buy them. It’s more about suitability. The major websites and local insurance brokers may not offer all plans — only the ones that pay the most commissions.

And since most Part D plans no longer pay agent commissions, there is little advice about drug plans at all — except for the terrific Part D analysis at www.HeyMOE.com.

For a one-time fee of $30, HeyMOE will analyze your drugs and available pharmacies to give you unbiased advice on the best plan. They will also handle your enrollment. It’s a step above the Part D plan finder on Medicare.gov.

If you want to talk to a counselor who is not a salesperson for insurance companies, consider contacting your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP (ShipHelp.org), where qualified volunteers provide assistance over the telephone. But even they might not see all the plans for which you are eligible in your state.

A revolutionary new tool

This year, a revolutionary new website has arrived to lead you through every Medicare decision, without any annoying sales calls. It's called Medicare Pocket Protector, and its unique promise is to show you every policy for which you qualify, even some of those hidden on the Medicare.gov website.

It’s a hybrid help model. The website walks you through the entire decision-making process, leading you to all possible solutions and a recommendation you can trust. You can then either apply online or be connected to a licensed insurance broker in your state.

Michael Boshardy, CEO of Medicare Pocket Protector, explains that by not wasting time with sales calls, they can provide you unbiased advice directly online, in a way that is simple and logical, easy even for seniors who are not tech savvy.

At each step, there is an explanation. Are you already on Medicare, or just signing up for the first time? There’s a different path for each answer. If you’re just signing up, you get a clear and balanced description of the difference between Original Medicare plus a supplement vs. Medicare Advantage.

And on each page, there’s a big green button that says “Talk to Someone.” That person can then pull up your information. You don’t have to start over, since they can access the information you’ve already securely added to the website.

Boshardy states his mission clearly: “When people can see all their options clearly — and get advice that isn't shaped by agent commissions — they'll pick the plan that's truly best for them. And when enough people do that, insurers have to compete on coverage and benefits, not on what they pay agents.”

Boshardy is a licensed attorney and licensed Medicare adviser with over 10 years of experience in Medicare law, compliance, and benefits. He understands not just the plans, but the rules behind them and the fine print most people never read. He and his team have spent three years designing the algorithms behind this website — one that always gives clients the recommendation that is mathematically the best fit for their doctors, drugs, and budget — regardless of what commissions it pays.

Making smart choices

Medicare Pocket Protector has a useful tool that compares your costs for traditional Medicare with a supplement vs. the available Advantage plans in your zip code.

If you already know you want to be in Advantage, there is a comparison tool that lets you enter your preferred doctors, hospitals, and a list of your prescriptions before you start a comparison. Then with a click you’ll see the best plan that will cover your specific needs for the year ahead.

If you’re currently on an Advantage plan, you can scan your current Advantage card (or enter the plan information) and the site will generate an immediate comparison of costs and coverages for other plans in your area. Open enrollment is the time you can switch—and this makes it easier — plus they’ll honestly tell you if you’re already in the best plan for your needs.

Among other tools and features of the website are the “help-paying check” that connects you with state programs in your state of residence that might offer help paying premiums. Or if you’re trying to decide between your employer’s insurance plan and Medicare now that you’re 65, you can simply scan your current corporate insurance card and the site will compare benefits and costs with Medicare plans.

If you choose to become a client, Medicare Pocket Protector will help you understand and even dispute bills, or appeal coverage denials in the case of Advantage Plans.

Best of all, it’s all free to you. Insurance companies pay the commissions, and everyone in a plan pays the same premium. You can use the tools at no cost — even if you don’t wind up purchasing coverage. This technology makes it possible to help you make all the best Medicare decisions at no cost to you.

This is a true advancement in wiping out the nightmare of Medicare decision making. Try it. You have nothing to lose. And that’s The Savage Truth.

©2026 Terry Savage. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.