Free AARP Workshops to Help Beneficiaries Choose Medicare Insurance

Medicare beneficiaries can expect changes next year when key provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act take effect and AARP Hawai`i and the State of Hawai`i Health Insurance Assistance Program have planned a series of workshops to help people review their benefits and choose appropriate plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

The biggest change to Medicare is a cap on out-of-pocket expenses for Part D drug plans to $2,000. The change means a savings of about $1,500 annually on prescription drug copays for more than 10 percent of people with a drug insurance plan who do not receive subsidies.The prescription drug cost cap takes effect Jan. 1.

“The Medicare prescription drug cap could mean changes to Medicare drug insurance plan fees and coverage so it’s especially important that people review and compare their Medicare supplement insurance plans this year to make sure they have access to the drugs they need at the best prices,” said Keali`i Lopez, AARP Hawai`i State Director. “The State of Hawai`i Health Insurance Assistance Program or Hawai`i SHIP provides help to consumers using trained volunteers so they you can get information on Medicare insurance without a sales pitch.”

Note that AARP Hawai`i is not affiliated with the AARP insurance plans offered by United Health Care.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Workshops run from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. except for a Zoom webinar on Nov. 12 that goes from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Space is limited, and people can register to reserve a space at aarp.org/local or the AARP Hawai`i Facebook page.

The workshops are scheduled for:

Oct.8 – Windward Community College Akoakoa Room in Kaneohe
Oct. 9 – Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kinoole St. in Hilo
Oct. 10 – West Hawai`i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. in Kailu-Kona
Oct. 16 - Kaua`i War Memorial Convention Hall, 4191 Hardy St. in Lihue
Oct. 22 – Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St. in Honolulu
Oct. 25 - Kaunoa Senior Services, 401 Alakapa Pl., in Paia
Oct. 30 - Pearl City Library, 1138 Waimano Home Road, in Pearl City
Nov. 12 - Zoom webinar, Register for a Zoom link at events.aarp.org/hi-health