Medicare Open Enrollment in Jacksonville: Free SHINE Help Before the Dec 7 Deadline
Medicare Open Enrollment is open right now — October 15 through December 7, 2026. Anything you change by December 7 starts on January 1, 2027. After December 7, most people are locked into their plan for the year.
What you can change during Open Enrollment
- Join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
- If you have Original Medicare, join, drop, or switch a Medicare drug plan (Part D).
- Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage — or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
- If you are happy with your plan and it is not changing, you do not have to do anything. Your coverage continues.
Before you decide, read the Annual Notice of Change letter your plan sent you. Premiums, drug lists, and doctor networks change every year, even if you do nothing.
Free help in Jacksonville: SHINE counselors
You do not need to pay an agent. SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a Florida Department of Elder Affairs program run locally by ElderSource. SHINE counselors give free, unbiased, confidential Medicare counseling — they are not connected to any insurance company and will not try to sell you anything.
- SHINE / Elder Helpline: 1-888-242-4464
- ElderSource (Jacksonville): (904) 391-6600 — 10688 Old St. Augustine Road, open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Medicare’s national line: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Call early. Appointments fill up as the December 7 deadline gets close.
If the real problem is the cost
Ask the SHINE counselor about Medicare Savings Programs, which can help pay your Part B premium, and Part D Extra Help for drug costs. Many people qualify and never apply.
Deadline: December 7, 2026. Not sure what else you qualify for? Run our free 2-minute checker — it covers food, housing, utilities, health care, and more.
More help on this site: SHINE — Free Medicare Counseling · Medicare Savings Programs · ElderSource HelpLine
Sources: Medicare.gov (Open Enrollment dates and rules); ElderSource (SHINE program and phone numbers). Checked October 24, 2026.
