Mid November 2025 notes from Williamstown Council on Aging:
Medicare’s Open Enrollment period is currently underway and will close on December 7.
That’s close folks.
During open enrollment, you can review and compare Medicare options,
including switching between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan or changing
to another. You should look at your current insurance coverage to ensure that the plan you
currently have will continue to meet your needs for the following year.
You can review your plan by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, visiting Medicare Online (and log in for a more personalized shopping experience) or contact Elder Services at 413-499-0524 to speak with a SHINE (Serving Health Insurance needs for Elderly) counselor.
Plans can change and even disappear! If you are satisfied with your current health care coverage, you need not take any action. We might have suggestions as well.
PLEASE note! Scammers are extra busy this time of year. They may pretend to be from
Medicare or an insurance company to try to steal your personal information — or even
enroll you in a plan without your knowledge. Remember, legitimate agents and brokers who
represent Medicare plans need your permission before contacting you. If you get an
unsolicited call, just hang up. Uninvited emails or texts? You can ignore those, too. If you
suspect Medicare fraud, report it immediately to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit
Medicare.gov/fraud. And as always, never give your Medicare Number, Social Security
number, or financial information to anyone you don’t know. Medicare.gov/plan-compare is
your official source to find the type of coverage that fits you best during Medicare Open
Enrollment.
Trevor Murphy and colleagues from Williams will be here Friday afternoon, November 21, 2025 – they specialize
in Irish tunes-and we’ll be having pasta with meatballs and garlic bread beforehand. Food
at 12:30, music after, should be fun! Remember RSVP required for food and if you RSVP and
plans change, please tell us. These guys have been here before and they were really good!
Two items of housekeeping-we will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following.
No programs folks. We’re also going through lots of paper cups at the water cooler. If you’ve
been bringing your own container, thanks. If you have one at home and aren’t using it, you
might want to think about it…
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Oh-and don’t forget to bring your gently used but no longer needed coats to donate to the
coat collection. There are people out there who really need one! Thanks!