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# Senior Corner - Medicare Open Enrollment is Coming
- URL: https://pembrokecitizenjournal.com/community/senior-corner/
- Published: 2026-09-11T12:00:54.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T12:00:54.000Z
- Author: Ken Pike
- Tags: Community, Senior Corner

Welcome to the Senior Corner on Pembroke Citizen Journal. We will use this space to provide information relevant to Pembroke seniors on a wide variety of topics. In addition, we will highlight the programs and services of Pembroke Senior Services, which is housed in the Pembroke Community Center.

This month we will address the Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7\. This is a very important time for all Medicare beneficiaries to review all of their insurance coverage. Even if a person is satisfied with their coverage, many things can change. An increase in premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs can occur. In addition, Medicare Advantage-style plans can also change the doctors, medical providers, and facilities that are in their networks. Last year, Blue Cross ended one of their most popular Medicare PPO plans causing thousands of Medicare enrollees to seek other coverage. More recently, Mass General Brigham Medicare Advantage plans announced that they would no longer have Dana Farber in their network of providers. The landscape for Medicare Advantage plans has been changing significantly in recent years and more changes are expected in 2027 and beyond.

The good news for Medicare enrollees is that Pembroke Senior Services (and most other local senior centers) has SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselors who are trained and certified in all aspects of Medicare insurance coverage. They are also trained to screen for Medicare enrollees for any financial assistance programs that could help with ever increasing insurance costs. Seniors can call Pembroke Senior Services' Marie Vitale at 781-829-3658 to request an appointment with a SHINE counselor.

Stay tuned in future weeks for more important news from the Senior Corner in your Pembroke Citizen Journal.

Ken Pike, M.Ed, LCSW, is a lifelong licensed social worker and has worked as a certified SHINE counselor and outreach social worker assisting seniors with accessing a variety of needed resources and services over the past 10 years.