Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15–December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Do you understand your Medicare options, and how do you know whether your current coverage still fits your needs?In this episode of Aging Amazing, host Andrew Graft and resident aging expert Alan Ormsby welcome Darren Hotton, AARP Utah's community outreach director and a longtime Medicare education specialist. Together, they make sense of Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, prescription drug coverage, Medicare supplements (Medigap), and the choices people can consider during open enrollment.You'll learn why premiums aren't the only costs worth comparing, what to look for in your Annual Notice of Change, and how free, unbiased SHIP counselors can help you review plans without having to figure everything out alone.MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT: October 15–December 7, 2026. Changes generally begin January 1, 2027.FREE HELP AND OFFICIAL RESOURCES• Find your local SHIP counselor: https://www.shiphelp.org/ | 1-877-839-2675• Compare 2027 Medicare plans: https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/• Medicare Open Enrollment rules: https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment• Annual Notice of Change information: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/mailings/costs-and-coverage/upcoming-plan-changes• Medicare costs and coverage comparisons: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/what-does-medicare-cost• Medigap timing and eligibility: https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buyUTAH RESOURCEUtah SHIP: 1-800-541-7735 | https://www.shiphelp.org/ships/utah/Outside Utah, use the national SHIP locator above to find your local program.CHAPTERS00:00 Why Medicare Open Enrollment Matters03:55 Meet Medicare Expert Darren Hotton05:51 Medicare Basics and Coverage Options07:09 Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage10:47 Medical Costs and Out-of-Pocket Limits13:20 Medicare Supplements and Extra Benefits15:23 What You Can Change During Open Enrollment16:22 Free, Unbiased Help from SHIP18:48 Open Enrollment Dates and Annual Review20:45 Understanding Your Annual Notice of Change23:34 Comparing Medicare Costs27:30 Reviewing Your Coverage for 202730:20 Take Charge of Your Medicare ChoicesIMPORTANT INFORMATIONThis conversation is for general education, not individualized insurance, medical, legal, or financial advice. Medicare rules, coverage, eligibility, and costs change and can differ by plan, location, and circumstance. Confirm your choices using official plan documents, Medicare.gov, or a SHIP counselor before making changes. Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximums vary by plan and do not include every possible healthcare expense. Dollar amounts discussed in the conversation are examples, not current quotes; the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket threshold for covered drugs is $2,400 (rather than the $2,000 figure mentioned in the interview). Switching to Original Medicare does not always guarantee access to a Medigap policy. Initial Medicare enrollment follows different rules from annual Open Enrollment.Aging Amazing is an independent podcast, not an AARP production. Guests and contributors share educational insights in their individual capacities; their participation does not constitute an official AARP policy statement or endorsement.#MedicareOpenEnrollment #Medicare2027 #AgingAmazing

Americans are living longer — and that is good news. But those additional years can also bring more decisions about health, finances, independence, family support and social connection.

In Episode 2 of Aging Amazing, host Andrew Graft and resident aging expert Alan Ormsby look at how growing older in America has changed — and what older adults and the people who love them can do now to preserve independence, dignity, choice and quality of life.

In this conversation:

• Why longer life requires more intentional planning

• The difference between lifespan and healthspan

• The financial pressures that can come with living longer

• What independence really means as we grow older

• Why dignity and personal choice matter

• How families can help without taking over

• Why waiting for a crisis can reduce your options

• How to build a trusted “team” before you urgently need one

• Three areas worth thinking about now: finances, health and social connection

• Where to turn when you are not sure how to begin

One of the episode’s central ideas is simple: independence does not mean doing everything by yourself. Sometimes the right help, offered at the right time, is exactly what helps someone preserve more independence and choice.

RESOURCES

AARP resources for older adults and families: https://www.aarp.org/

Find local aging services and your Area Agency on Aging through the U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Eldercare Locator: https://eldercare.acl.gov/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Aging in America: 1955 vs. today

02:01 What has changed about growing older?

03:23 The longevity bonus 05:01 Lifespan vs. healthspan

06:00 The financial side of living longer

09:15 What longer lives mean for families

11:45 What independence really means

14:12 Dignity and decision-making

16:03 “Nothing about us without us”

17:08 Build your team before you need it

20:29 Why waiting for a crisis costs choices

23:51 Three areas to plan for now

27:10 Where to turn for help

28:18 Final thoughts

ABOUT AGING AMAZING

Aging Amazing helps older adults and the people who love and care for them navigate aging with greater confidence, dignity, understanding and hope. Subscribe for practical conversations about aging well, caregiving, independence, health, money, technology, transportation and the decisions that matter as we grow older.

Have a question you would like us to explore in a future episode? Leave it in the comments.

DISCLAIMER

Aging Amazing is intended for general educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, legal, financial or other professional advice. Individual circumstances vary, and programs, costs, eligibility requirements, recommendations and other information may change over time. Viewers should verify important decisions with appropriate professionals or official sources.

Aging Amazing is an independent production and is not an AARP production. Guests speak from their own expertise and experience; their comments should not be interpreted as official positions of their employers or affiliated organizations unless expressly stated.

#AgingAmazing #AgingWell #OlderAdults