ArcaMax

Toni,

I enrolled in Medicare in 2025 but have not received my 2027 Medicare & You handbook, and I’m concerned about what I should do during the fall Medicare season. I have health problems, and I might make the wrong change to my Medicare or prescription drug plan. My brother said that on the cover of his Medicare & You handbook it says to go digital. What does that mean?

I am stressed by the marketing materials I am receiving from insurance plans, especially from Medicare Advantage companies. I would really appreciate any advice that you can give me since Medicare season has started. Thanks, Toni.

—Jeff from Las Vegas

Hello Jeff:

Please take your time researching your Medicare options because of your health issues. The 2027 Medicare & You handbook was to be mailed to more than 70 million Medicare beneficiaries after Sept. 15 to arrive before Oct. 1, in time for Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

After Sept. 25, I received my 2027 Medicare & You handbook and was surprised when I noticed a large blue star on the handbook’s cover with an announcement saying, “Go digital! Switch to the electronic Handbook at Medicare.gov/go-digital and make this your last paper copy.” Even for me who works every day on the Medicare.gov website, “going digital” was confusing. Jeff, please delay enrolling in the digital version until next year.

Below are the steps the Toni Says team member uses when helping clients during Medicare’s OEP:

Step #1: Decide whether you want an Original Medicare (Parts A & B) or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

Step #2: Decide whether you need to enroll in or change your current Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) plan during Medicare’s OEP.

Step #3: Don’t forget you have till midnight Monday, Dec. 7, to change or enroll in a new Part D plan for your Medicare Advantage plan or stand-alone Medicare Part D plan, which both begin Jan. 1, 2027.

Remember … with Medicare, what you don’t know WILL hurt you!

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Toni King is an author and columnist on Medicare, Social Security and long-term care issues. She has spent nearly 30 years as a top sales leader in the field. If you have a Medicare question, email info@tonisays.com or call 832-519-8664. Sign up for the Toni Says newsletter at www.tonisays.com to keep up to date on Medicare changes.

©2026 Toni King. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Copyright 2026 Toni King, Distributed by Counterpoint Media