Medicare 2026

Free Medicare guidance for Morgantown from SHIP counselors

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — If Medicare feels confusing, you are not alone. Between mailers, TV ads, and phone calls, it can be hard to tell who is trying to help you and who is trying to sell you something. The good news: Morgantown residents have places to turn for free, unbiased Medicare guidance — and it is closer than you may think.

Straight Answers, No Sales Pitch

This guide walks through where to get honest help locally, what a licensed agent can and cannot do for you, and which official resources to keep bookmarked.

Start With West Virginia SHIP

Your first stop should be the West Virginia State Health Insurance Assistance Program, better known as SHIP. SHIP counselors are trained volunteers and staff who do not sell insurance and do not earn commissions. Their only job is to help you understand your Medicare choices.

SHIP counselors can help you:

• Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
• Understand Part D drug coverage
• Review Medigap (Medicare Supplement) options
• Check whether you qualify for programs like Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program
• Sort out billing problems or appeals

To reach West Virginia SHIP, call 1-877-987-4463 (1-877-987-INFO) or visit wvship.org. In Morgantown, SHIP services are often coordinated through local senior centers and the Monongalia County Committee on Aging — a good local starting point for an in-person appointment.

What a Licensed Agent or Agency Does

Licensed insurance agents and agencies serve a different role. They are paid by the insurance companies whose plans they sell. That is not a bad thing — a good agent knows the products well and can walk you through applications — but it does mean their plan menu is limited to the carriers they are contracted with.

If you work with a licensed agent, here are fair questions to ask:

1. Which carriers are you appointed with? (An agent working with just one company can only show you that company's plans.) 2. Are you independent or captive? 3. Will you help me with issues after I enroll, such as claim questions or a plan change next year? 4. Can you show me how a plan handles the pharmacies and doctors I already use?

A trustworthy agent will not pressure you, will not ask for payment, and will not push you to decide on the spot.

The Local Picture in Monongalia County

Morgantown is in Monongalia County, where 42 Medicare Advantage plans were offered for 2026, spread across 7 carriers offering MA-PD (Medicare Advantage with drug coverage), according to CMS Plan Finder data. West Virginia has 12 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide — many people get drug coverage bundled inside a Medicare Advantage plan, though anyone on Original Medicare can join one of the statewide stand-alone Part D options through medicare.gov. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

With more than 14,000 Monongalia County residents age 65 and up, demand for good guidance is real. A one-hour session with a SHIP counselor or a reputable licensed agent can save you from an expensive mistake.

What's New for 2027 That Everyone Should Know

Whether you talk to SHIP or an agent, make sure the conversation covers these 2027 program changes:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your drug spending hits the cap, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible. Plans can charge less, but not more than $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old "donut hole" is gone. Part D now has three phases, not four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. You can choose to spread your drug costs across the year in monthly bills instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA (the income-related surcharge on Parts B and D) kicks in above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

These rules apply nationwide — no salesperson controls them.

Mark These Dates on Your Calendar

• October 15 – December 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to change to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

Outside these windows, you generally need a Special Enrollment Period — for example, if you move or lose employer coverage. SHIP can help you figure out if you qualify.

Red Flags to Watch For

Not everyone offering "free Medicare help" has your interests first. Be cautious if someone:

• Shows up at your door uninvited
• Asks for your Medicare number over the phone out of the blue
• Promises benefits that "the government doesn't want you to know about"
• Pushes you to sign paperwork the same day
• Claims to represent Medicare itself (Medicare does not sell plans)

If something feels off, hang up and call SHIP or 1-800-MEDICARE.