Medicare Advantage Plans in 2026: How to Choose the Right CT Plan

Every Connecticut resident turning 65 or approaching Medicare eligibility faces a pivotal decision: should they enroll in Original Medicare supplemented by a Medigap plan, or opt for Medicare Advantage — the private, bundled alternative known as Part C? Medicare Advantage has grown to cover more than 54 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries nationally, and enrollment has risen significantly in Connecticut over the past five years. The appeal is clear: many plans charge no additional monthly premium beyond the Part B amount, bundle drug coverage, and include extras like dental cleanings, eye exams, and gym memberships that Original Medicare does not cover. But Medicare Advantage is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Choosing the wrong plan — the wrong type, the wrong network, or a plan with a formulary that does not cover your medications — can cost Connecticut seniors thousands of dollars annually and limit access to the specialists and hospitals they depend on. This guide walks you through every dimension of Medicare Advantage plan selection for 2026, with a focus on the Connecticut market.

What Is Medicare Advantage (Part C) and How Does It Work?

Medicare Advantage, officially called Medicare Part C, is a program through which private insurance companies contract with the federal government to deliver Medicare benefits to enrolled beneficiaries. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you are still technically enrolled in Medicare, but your hospital coverage (Part A) and medical coverage (Part B) are administered by the private plan rather than by the federal Medicare program directly. You continue to pay your standard Medicare Part B premium — $185.00 per month in 2026 — to the federal government, and the private insurer receives a risk-adjusted payment from CMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for each enrolled beneficiary.

Sources: Medicare Advantage Overview, CMS Medicare Eligibility and Enrollment

Every Medicare Advantage plan is legally required to cover all services covered by Original Medicare Parts A and B. This is a bedrock guarantee: if Medicare would pay for a service under traditional coverage, your Medicare Advantage plan must cover it as well, though the cost-sharing structure — copays, deductibles, coinsurance — will differ from Original Medicare’s structure and will be defined by your specific plan’s benefits package. The critical practical difference is that you receive those benefits through the plan’s contracted network of providers, subject to the plan’s rules regarding referrals, prior authorizations, and covered service areas.

Most Medicare Advantage plans also bundle prescription drug coverage (Part D) directly into the plan, creating what is called an MA-PD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug) plan. This integration eliminates the need to enroll in a separate standalone Part D plan. Some Medicare Advantage plans — notably most Medical Savings Account plans and certain employer-sponsored plans — do not include drug coverage, but the vast majority of individually purchased Connecticut plans include Part D as standard.

What Are the Different Types of Medicare Advantage Plans?

Medicare Advantage plans come in several structural types, each with different rules about provider networks, referrals, and cost-sharing. Understanding these distinctions is essential before you begin comparing specific plans in Connecticut, because the plan type determines the fundamental mechanics of how you access care — and whether your preferred doctors and hospitals will be covered.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans are the most common type of Medicare Advantage plan in Connecticut. With an HMO, you must select a primary care physician (PCP) from the plan’s network who coordinates your care. To see a specialist, you typically need a referral from your PCP. Care from out-of-network providers is generally not covered except in genuine medical emergencies. HMOs tend to have the lowest premiums and tightest cost-sharing because of the managed-care structure, but they impose the most restrictions on provider choice. For Connecticut seniors who have a long-standing relationship with a primary care physician in-network and who primarily see specialists within the same health system, an HMO can deliver excellent value.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans offer significantly more flexibility than HMOs. With a PPO, you can see any provider that accepts Medicare — in-network or out-of-network — without needing a referral. However, seeing in-network providers costs less: you pay lower copays and coinsurance within the network, while out-of-network care is covered but at higher cost-sharing rates. PPO plans typically carry somewhat higher monthly premiums than comparable HMOs, reflecting the broader access they provide. For Connecticut seniors who travel frequently, see specialists at academic medical centers, or simply value the freedom to see any Medicare-accepting doctor, a PPO provides a meaningful middle ground between the restrictions of an HMO and the open-access design of Medigap with Original Medicare.

Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans pay providers at a predetermined rate set by the plan rather than requiring a formal contracted network. Providers must accept the plan’s payment terms before treating you — and not all providers will. In practice, PFFS plans are rare in Connecticut’s individual Medicare Advantage market. They were more common before 2011 regulatory changes that required PFFS plans in urban markets to build actual provider networks. You may encounter PFFS plans offered through employer-sponsored retiree coverage, but for individually purchased Connecticut plans, HMO and PPO structures dominate.

What Are Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and Who Qualifies in CT?

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are a distinct category of Medicare Advantage plan designed to serve beneficiaries with specific health situations or coverage needs. SNPs are required to tailor their benefits, provider networks, and formularies to the populations they serve, and they often offer superior coordination of care for the specific conditions or circumstances they address. Connecticut has several types of SNPs available in 2026, and qualifying beneficiaries should evaluate them alongside standard HMO and PPO plans.

Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) serve beneficiaries who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid — often called Dual Eligibles. In Connecticut, Dual Eligibles are also called HUSKY recipients who are also Medicare beneficiaries. D-SNPs coordinate benefits across both programs, typically resulting in very low or zero cost-sharing and sometimes including additional benefits like transportation, supplemental food allowances, and enhanced care management. If you qualify for both Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid (HUSKY), a D-SNP may dramatically reduce your out-of-pocket costs compared to a standard Medicare Advantage plan.

Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) serve beneficiaries with specific severe or disabling chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic heart failure, end-stage renal disease, dementia, or severe mental illness. C-SNPs design their provider networks to emphasize specialists in the covered condition, include targeted disease management programs, and structure formularies to prioritize medications relevant to the condition. Eligibility requires documentation of the qualifying condition. For a Connecticut senior managing a serious chronic condition, a C-SNP often provides better clinical coordination than a general HMO.

Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) serve beneficiaries who live in or are expected to need long-term institutional care — such as residents of skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes. I-SNPs are structured around institutional care delivery and coordinate benefits with the facility. For Connecticut seniors in long-term institutional care settings, an I-SNP offered by or affiliated with their facility may provide the most integrated coverage experience.

Connecticut Medicare Advantage Carriers in 2026: Who Offers What?

Connecticut’s Medicare Advantage market in 2026 is served by a mix of national insurers and regional health plans. The specific plans available — and their premiums, networks, formularies, and benefits — vary by county and ZIP code. A plan available in Hartford County may not be available in Windham County, and plan benefits within the same carrier can vary by service area. Use the Medicare Plan Finder (Medicare.gov/plan-compare) to see the exact plans available in your ZIP code.

Sources: Medicare Plan Finder

ConnectiCare has historically been one of the strongest regional carriers in Connecticut, with a provider network built specifically around Connecticut health systems including Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, and Trinity Health of New England. Aetna CVS Health leverages its massive pharmacy footprint — with CVS locations across Connecticut — to offer prescription drug benefits with convenient access. UnitedHealthcare’s AARP-branded plans carry the credibility of the nation’s largest Medicare insurer with a broad PPO network that includes most Connecticut hospitals. Newer entrant Wellcare has competed aggressively on premium price, making it worth evaluating for budget-focused beneficiaries.

Plan benefits, premiums, formularies, and networks change every January 1. A plan that provided excellent value in 2025 may have modified its drug formulary, added prior authorization requirements for medications you take, narrowed its provider network, or increased cost-sharing. Every beneficiary should review their Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — mailed by carriers each fall — and compare their current plan against alternatives during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7).

How Do You Use the Medicare Plan Finder to Compare Plans?

The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/plan-compare is the official federal tool for comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available in your ZIP code. When used correctly — especially with your medication list entered — it provides personalized cost estimates that are far more accurate than looking at premiums alone. Here is a step-by-step guide to using it effectively for 2026 plan selection.

Sources: Medicare Plan Finder Tool, Medicare Costs Overview

Step-by-Step Guide to the Medicare Plan Finder

• Start with your ZIP code: Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to see only the plans available in your specific area. Plans are approved by ZIP code, so Hartford County and New Haven County will show different options.
• Enter your medications: Click
• and search for each medication you take by name. Include the exact dosage and how often you take it. This is the most critical step — it personalizes the cost estimate to your actual drug costs rather than showing you only premiums.
• Add your preferred pharmacies: Search for the pharmacies you use regularly. Plans use preferred pharmacy networks where your copays are lowest; a plan with your pharmacy as preferred may cost significantly less than one where it is non-preferred.
• Filter for Medicare Advantage: Select
• in the plan type filter. You can further filter for Medicare Advantage with Drug Coverage (MA-PD) to see only integrated plans.
• Review the estimated annual cost: The Plan Finder calculates an estimated annual total cost that includes the plan premium (plus Part B), drug costs based on your medications, and average cost-sharing. This number — not just the monthly premium — is the right figure to compare across plans.
• Check your doctors: Use the
• tool or call the plan directly to verify that your specific Connecticut primary care physician, cardiologist, or other specialists are in-network for the plans you are considering. This step is critical and cannot be skipped.
• Review star ratings: Filter for 4-star or 5-star plans, which indicate above-average quality based on CMS measures of clinical care, member experience, and administrative processes.
• Compare MOOP limits: Note each plan

A common mistake Connecticut seniors make is comparing plans only by monthly premium. A plan with a $0 premium and a formulary that does not cover your medications — or places them on a high tier — may cost thousands more annually than a $45/month plan that covers them on a preferred tier. The Plan Finder’s estimated annual cost calculation, when you have entered your medications accurately, accounts for this. Always base your comparison on total estimated annual cost, not premium alone.

How Do Medicare Star Ratings Work and Why Do They Matter?

CMS rates Medicare Advantage plans annually on a 1-to-5-star scale based on dozens of quality measures across five broad domains: staying healthy (screenings, tests, vaccines), managing chronic conditions, member experience (based on surveys), member complaints and plan performance, and health plan administrative processes. The composite star rating is published each October for the following plan year. A 4-star or 5-star rating indicates a plan that performs well across these dimensions; 3 stars is adequate; 1 or 2 stars indicates significant quality concerns.

Sources: KFF Medicare Advantage 2026 Enrollment Update

Star ratings matter for several practical reasons. Plans with 4 or 5 stars can market themselves year-round (outside normal enrollment periods) and receive bonus payments from CMS that many plans use to fund richer benefits. Plans with fewer than 3 stars for multiple consecutive years face sanctions and potential termination. For Connecticut beneficiaries, filtering for 4-star-or-higher plans in the Medicare Plan Finder is a reasonable starting point for quality screening, though star ratings should not be the sole decision factor — a 4-star plan with a formulary that does not cover your key medications is still the wrong plan for your situation.

The national average Medicare Advantage star rating for 2026 is approximately 4.1 stars, driven by continued improvement in clinical quality measures. Connecticut’s plans from major national carriers like Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana generally perform at or above the national average. ConnectiCare’s local plans have historically received strong member satisfaction ratings within the state. When you view plans in the Medicare Plan Finder, star ratings are displayed directly alongside each plan’s details.

What Is the MOOP Limit and How Does Prior Authorization Affect Your Care?

The Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) limit is one of the most important financial protections in Medicare Advantage. In 2026, CMS has set the following MOOP limits that all Medicare Advantage plans must comply with: the in-network MOOP maximum is $9,350 per year, and the combined in-network plus out-of-network MOOP maximum is $14,000 per year. Once your total cost-sharing payments for covered services within a calendar year reach the MOOP limit, the plan covers 100 percent of additional covered services for the remainder of that year — you pay nothing more.

Sources: Medicare Costs 2026

Many Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans set their MOOP well below the federal maximums as a competitive feature. HMO plans commonly set in-network MOOPs of $3,500 to $6,700, while PPO plans may set in-network MOOPs of $5,000 to $7,900. A lower MOOP provides stronger catastrophic protection and is especially valuable for beneficiaries who anticipate significant healthcare utilization — such as those managing heart disease, cancer, joint replacement surgery, or ongoing specialist care. When comparing plans, look beyond the premium to the MOOP; paying $35/month more for a plan with a $4,000 MOOP instead of a $7,900 MOOP can be a very sound financial decision for a beneficiary with chronic conditions.

Important MOOP limitations that Connecticut beneficiaries should understand: the MOOP resets to zero on January 1 of each year, so a serious illness that spans two calendar years can result in reaching the MOOP in both years. Additionally, the MOOP applies only to Medicare-covered services — it does not cap your costs for non-covered services or for care received outside the plan’s network for HMO enrollees (except emergencies). And the MOOP does not include prescription drug costs — Part D has its own separate out-of-pocket cap of $2,000 in 2026.

Prior authorization is the process by which a Medicare Advantage plan requires advance approval before covering certain medical services, procedures, or medications. Unlike Original Medicare — where coverage decisions are based on Medicare’s published coverage rules and applied automatically — Medicare Advantage plans overlay their own prior authorization requirements on top of Medicare’s coverage standards. Common services subject to prior authorization in Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans include: non-emergency inpatient hospital admissions, skilled nursing facility placements, home health services, durable medical equipment (CPAP, hospital beds, wheelchairs), advanced imaging (MRI, CT scan, PET scan), specialty medications, certain surgical procedures, and specialist referrals in HMO plans.

CMS data shows that Medicare Advantage plans collectively process millions of prior authorization requests annually, with denial rates that vary by plan and service type. When a prior authorization request is denied, beneficiaries have the right to appeal — and a significant percentage of appealed denials are overturned. However, the appeals process takes time and administrative effort, which can be particularly burdensome when you are managing an acute or serious health condition. If you anticipate needing specific procedures, medications, or equipment that are commonly subject to prior authorization, ask the plan directly about its prior authorization requirements for those services before enrolling.

What Extra Benefits Do Connecticut Medicare Advantage Plans Include?

One of the most compelling features of Medicare Advantage compared to Original Medicare is the inclusion of supplemental benefits not covered by standard Medicare. These extra benefits vary significantly by plan, by carrier, and by year — but the following represent the most common categories available in Connecticut’s 2026 Medicare Advantage market.

Dental benefits are included in most Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans, but the scope varies dramatically. Some plans offer preventive-only dental coverage — covering two cleanings, exams, and X-rays per year. Others offer comprehensive dental coverage up to an annual maximum, often $1,000 to $2,500 per year, that covers fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, and sometimes dentures. A plan advertising dental coverage may mean very different things in practice, so always read the plan’s Evidence of Coverage (EOC) to understand exactly what dental services are covered and at what cost-sharing. For Connecticut seniors who need significant dental work, a plan with up to $2,500 in comprehensive dental benefits can represent real value.

Vision benefits in Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans typically include an annual routine eye exam, plus a dollar allowance — commonly $150 to $300 — toward prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses at in-network vision providers. Some plans cover an eye exam every year; others cover one every two years. Note that Medicare Advantage vision benefits are for routine vision correction — they do not replace coverage for medical eye conditions (glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy), which are covered under the medical benefit portion of the plan just as they are under Original Medicare.

Hearing benefits in Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans have expanded significantly in recent years. Most plans include a routine hearing exam. Beyond the exam, some plans provide a hearing aid allowance — ranging from $500 to $2,500 per ear — toward hearing aids purchased through in-network hearing providers. Original Medicare covers none of this. For Connecticut seniors with hearing loss, a Medicare Advantage plan with meaningful hearing aid benefits can offset thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs that Medigap enrollees must fund entirely out of pocket or through separate supplemental coverage.

Fitness membership benefits are among the most popular extra benefits in Medicare Advantage. The most widely recognized program is SilverSneakers, which provides free membership to thousands of fitness facilities nationwide. Most major Connecticut Medicare Advantage carriers — including UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Aetna — include SilverSneakers or an equivalent fitness benefit (Renew Active, Silver&Fit, One Pass) in their plans. Participating facilities in Connecticut include YMCAs, Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, and many independent gyms. For active seniors, this benefit can be worth $300-$600 annually in gym membership costs.

How Does Part D Drug Coverage Work in Medicare Advantage Plans?

Most Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans include integrated Part D prescription drug coverage — called MA-PD plans. Your drug benefit is built into the Medicare Advantage plan itself: same ID card, same insurer, one set of rules. The formulary (the list of covered drugs), the tier structure (which tier your drug falls on), the cost-sharing at each tier, and the preferred pharmacy network are all defined by the plan and disclosed annually in the plan’s Evidence of Coverage document.

Checking the formulary before you enroll is one of the most important steps in Medicare Advantage plan selection. Do not assume your current medications are covered — every plan has its own formulary, and a drug covered on one plan’s Tier 1 may be on another plan’s Tier 4 or not covered at all. Use the Medicare Plan Finder’s drug entry tool to enter your specific medications and dosages; the tool will show you each plan’s coverage tier and estimated annual drug cost. Additionally, look for whether the plan uses step therapy (requiring you to try a lower-cost drug before the plan covers your preferred drug) or quantity limits on specific medications.

The 2026 Part D redesign introduced a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug costs for all Medicare Part D enrollees, including those in MA-PD plans. Once your total drug cost-sharing reaches $2,000, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year. This is a major improvement over prior years when no out-of-pocket cap existed in the catastrophic coverage phase, and it significantly reduces financial risk for Connecticut seniors on expensive specialty medications.

Preferred pharmacy networks are another factor in drug cost. Plans negotiate lower cost-sharing at preferred pharmacies — often large national chains and mail-order pharmacies. Choosing a preferred pharmacy for 90-day supply refills can meaningfully reduce your out-of-pocket drug costs. CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart are commonly preferred pharmacies across multiple Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans. Mail-order pharmacy (often 90-day supply at 2-months’ cost-share) can further reduce costs for maintenance medications.

What Does the 2026 CT Medicare Advantage Premium Landscape Look Like?

Connecticut’s Medicare Advantage premium landscape in 2026 spans a wide range, from $0 additional monthly premium (above Part B) to approximately $125 per month for premium-bearing plans with enhanced benefits. Understanding what drives this range helps you make an intelligent trade-off between premium and benefits.

The $0 premium plans exist because the insurer’s capitated payment from CMS is sufficient to fund the required Medicare benefits without charging an additional premium. These plans typically feature HMO structures with tighter networks and higher cost-sharing (copays and coinsurance) when you use services. A beneficiary who is healthy and uses minimal healthcare in a given year may come out ahead with a $0 premium plan — paying no premium and incurring little cost-sharing. But a beneficiary who needs a hospitalization, surgery, or extensive specialist care may reach a $7,000-$9,000 MOOP on a $0 premium plan, while a $50/month plan with a $4,000 MOOP would cap their costs much lower.

Mid-premium plans charging $30 to $80 per month in Connecticut tend to offer a balance of lower cost-sharing, richer extra benefits (more comprehensive dental, higher hearing aid allowances, larger OTC allowances), and lower MOOP limits. These plans are particularly appropriate for beneficiaries who anticipate regular specialist visits, have chronic conditions requiring ongoing treatment, or place high value on the supplemental benefits.

One important administrative concept in Medicare Advantage is coordination of benefits. When you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan becomes the primary payer for your healthcare — Medicare becomes secondary and largely uninvolved in payment. Your Medicare ID card is used primarily at enrollment and for certain procedures that require Medicare to be billed. The plan pays providers directly at its contracted rates, and provider billing goes entirely through the plan. This is different from Original Medicare, where Medicare is always the primary payer and a Medigap policy pays the remaining cost-sharing as secondary.

When Is Medicare Advantage a Poor Choice for Connecticut Seniors?

Medicare Advantage works well for many Connecticut seniors, but it is genuinely a poor fit for others. Understanding where Medicare Advantage falls short helps you make an honest assessment of whether it serves your specific situation — or whether Medigap with Original Medicare is the better long-term choice.

Situations Where Medicare Advantage May Poorly Serve CT Seniors

• Frequent or extended travel outside Connecticut: HMO plans cover out-of-area care only in emergencies. If you spend winters in Florida, Arizona, or elsewhere, or travel frequently for extended periods, you may find yourself responsible for full costs of non-emergency care outside your plan
• Complex chronic conditions requiring specialist access: If you manage multiple serious conditions — advanced heart disease, cancer, COPD, autoimmune disorders — and rely on specialists at academic medical centers or university health systems, the restrictions of HMO networks (requiring referrals, limiting which specialists you can see) and the risk that your specialist is not in-network can impede your care. Prior authorization requirements add friction to every service.
• Established relationships with specific specialists or hospitals: If you have an oncologist at Yale Smilow, a cardiologist at Hartford Hospital, or an endocrinologist at UConn Health that you trust with your ongoing care, you must verify they are in-network for any plan you consider — and that status can change each January 1. With Original Medicare, 99% of providers accept Medicare and your access to any of them is guaranteed regardless of the plan you carry.
• High sensitivity to administrative burden: Prior authorization, referral requirements, appeals processes, and annual benefit changes require beneficiaries to be active managers of their coverage. For Connecticut seniors who are not comfortable navigating these processes, or who have family caregiver support limited in providing this administrative assistance, Medigap
• History of being denied Medigap at 65: Once you are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage with a health condition that might prevent you from passing Medigap underwriting, you may be locked into Medicare Advantage. The guaranteed-issue window for Medigap — the six-month open enrollment period starting at 65 — is the only time most people can access Medigap without underwriting. If that window has passed and your health has changed, switching to Medigap may no longer be possible.

The asymmetry that makes Medicare Advantage planning especially consequential: switching from Medigap to Medicare Advantage is always possible during the Annual Enrollment Period. Switching from Medicare Advantage back to Medigap may require medical underwriting outside of limited guaranteed-issue windows, and a beneficiary with significant health conditions may be unable to obtain Medigap coverage at any price. This reality means the initial Medicare choice at 65 carries long-term implications that many people underestimate.

How Do You Choose the Right Medicare Advantage Plan for Your Situation?

Choosing the right Medicare Advantage plan is a multi-step process that goes well beyond comparing monthly premiums. Follow a systematic approach to match your specific health needs, financial situation, and provider preferences to the right plan for 2026.

A Systematic Approach to Choosing Your CT Medicare Advantage Plan

• List your medications with dosages: Before anything else, compile a complete, accurate list of every prescription drug you take, including the exact dosage and frequency. This list drives the most important variable in plan selection — drug costs.
• List your doctors: Identify every provider you see regularly — primary care physician, all specialists, preferred hospital. For each one, check their in-network status with any plan you consider. This step must be done for the specific plan year, as network status changes annually.
• Estimate your anticipated healthcare use: Are you currently healthy with minimal visits, or do you have ongoing conditions requiring regular specialist care, procedures, or hospitalizations? Be realistic — your past year
• Set your financial parameters: What monthly premium level is comfortable for you? What MOOP amount could you fund from savings in a worst-case year? A higher-premium plan with a lower MOOP may be more financially secure for you than a lower-premium plan with a high MOOP if you have chronic conditions.
• Use the Medicare Plan Finder with your medications: Enter your drugs in the Plan Finder and sort by estimated annual cost. Identify plans where your medications are on the lowest tiers available and your preferred pharmacy is in the preferred network.
• Filter for 4+ star plans: Use the star rating filter to focus on quality plans. Then check MOOP limits and network availability for your specific doctors.
• Read the Evidence of Coverage for your top plans: The EOC is the legally binding document that details what is covered, at what cost-sharing, with what prior authorization requirements. It is long, but reviewing the sections on your specific medications, services you use, and the prior authorization requirements gives you critical information that the summary brochure omits.
• Work with a licensed Medicare broker: An independent Medicare broker in Connecticut who works with multiple carriers can do this analysis on your behalf, present options side-by-side, and explain plan differences in plain language. Medicare brokers are compensated by the insurance companies and provide their services to beneficiaries at no additional cost.

Connecticut’s CHOICES program — the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained volunteers. CHOICES counselors can help you use the Plan Finder, compare specific plans, and understand your rights as a Medicare beneficiary. They are not compensated by insurance companies and have no financial interest in which plan you choose. Contact CHOICES at the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services for a free one-on-one counseling appointment.

Sources: CT CHOICES Medicare Counseling Program

Frequently Asked Questions