OLYMPIA, WA – It is Medicare open enrollment season until Dec. 7, and experts are urging Washingtonians to engage with the process to avoid surprise price increases or loss of coverage.

Washington’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program provides free, unbiased support to people applying or updating their Medicare.

Tim Smolen, program manager, said his message this year is to pay attention, even if you have been enrolled in Medicare for years.

“I can guarantee, something is changing that you care about,” Smolen stressed. “That might be your plan is exiting the market, or you have a rate increase for the monthly premium, or you’re going to pay more for your prescription drugs.”

This year, the program introduced the Medicare Jumpstart Toolkit to help people through the steps of applying. People can visit Insurance.WA.gov or call 800-562-6900 to set up an appointment with a volunteer.

Jean Mathisen has been volunteering for the program in Washington State for 10 years. She said if you are feeling overwhelmed or confused by Medicare, you are not alone. She advised everyone to make sure their doctors and prescriptions are still covered under their plan and warns against making decisions based on what others are doing.

“Every January, we see people come in to see us who didn’t realize that the plan that worked so well for them the prior year maybe won’t even cover some of their drugs in the new year,” Mathisen reported. “It’s too late to make a change at that point.”

Mathisen added people who have low incomes, especially if they make less than about $1,800 a month, may still qualify for programs to reduce the cost of their premiums.