DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Department of Insurance announced that residents who used the state’s Medicare Assistance Bureau counseling program in 2024 saved a total of $2.2 million. The department is encouraging beneficiaries to schedule appointments as Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15 and runs through December 7. According to the department, the bureau provides free, one-on-one counseling to help residents review and compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap policies, and long-term care insurance. Counselors also assist with billing issues, prescription savings, and understanding additional benefits, including dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro said the results demonstrate the importance of unbiased guidance. Bureau Director Lakia Turner added that residents should be cautious during the fall enrollment period, when marketing and solicitation activity increases, some of which may be misleading or fraudulent. In-person counseling is available by appointment from October 20 through November 20. Wilmington sessions are Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 503 Carr Road, Suite 303; Georgetown sessions are Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 28 The Circle, Suite 1; and Dover sessions are Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 1351 West North Street, Suite 101. Walk-ins are not accepted. Phone and virtual appointments are also available. Residents can schedule appointments by calling 1-800-336-9500 or 302-674-7364.
The department notes that most enrollment decisions remain in effect for the full calendar year. Residents are advised to verify whether providers are in-network, review prescription coverage, and confirm that additional plan benefits are accessible. Federal updates for 2026 include the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which spreads out out-of-pocket drug costs, a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap for Part D enrollees, negotiated pricing for ten high-cost brand-name Part B and Part D drugs without generic alternatives, and the sunset of the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design program at the end of 2025. The Delaware Department of Insurance emphasized that residents who use the bureau’s counseling services are better equipped to make informed decisions about their coverage and minimize unexpected costs.
More information is available at https://www.insurance.delaware.gov
