In many Muslim homes across Massachusetts, an older parent's paperwork lands on the kitchen table of a son, daughter or grandchild. Every fall, one stack matters more than usual: Medicare's yearly Open Enrollment began Thursday, Oct. 15, and runs through Monday, Dec. 7, 2026.

The Qur'an asks believers to treat their parents with kindness, especially when they reach old age (Surah al-Isra, 17:23–24). Helping a parent choose health coverage carefully is one practical way to do that.

What Open Enrollment is, and why it matters

According to Medicare.gov, Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. During this window, people on Medicare can:

  • Join, drop or switch a Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage.
  • Join, drop or switch a stand-alone Medicare drug plan (Part D) if they have Original Medicare.
  • Move from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.

Changes take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and the plan must receive the enrollment request by Dec. 7. Plans can change their costs, covered drugs and doctor networks each year, so a plan that worked in 2026 may not fit in 2027.

A narrower window, Jan. 1 to March 31, lets people already in a Medicare Advantage Plan switch plans or return to Original Medicare, but it is better not to count on it.

Step one: find the "Annual Notice of Change"

Medicare says that if someone is in a Medicare plan, the plan sends a Plan Annual Notice of Change, often called the ANOC, each fall, usually in September. It lists the changes to coverage and costs that start in January.

If you can't find it, Medicare says to contact the plan. Read it with three questions in mind:

  1. Are all of their current prescriptions still covered, and at what cost?
  2. Are their regular doctors, specialists and pharmacy still in the plan's network?
  3. Did the monthly premium, deductible or copays change?

Step two: compare plans with the full medicine list

Medicare's Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/plan-compare lets you compare the plans available in your parent's ZIP code. Medicare recommends entering every prescription the person takes regularly to get the most accurate yearly cost estimate. If your parent spends part of the year in another state, Medicare suggests checking whether a plan covers them there.

Some Muslim families prefer to avoid pork-derived gelatin, which is used in some capsules. A plan's drug list won't tell you that, so ask the pharmacist or doctor about inactive ingredients and whether a tablet or liquid form is available.

Step three: get unbiased help from SHINE

SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) is Massachusetts' health insurance counseling program for people on Medicare and their caregivers, run by the state with Councils on Aging and local agencies. Barnstable County and Ethos, which hosts SHINE in Boston, both describe the counseling as free, unbiased and confidential. Medicare.gov notes that these state programs are not connected to any insurance company or plan.

Counselors can review coverage, compare plans and help with applications. To find one:

  • Statewide: Call MassOptions at 1-800-243-4636 or use the "Find a SHINE Counselor" search on Mass.gov. You can also ask your town's Council on Aging.
  • Boston: The city's Age Strong Commission takes appointments at 617-635-4366, and Ethos in Jamaica Plain takes them at 617-522-9270.
  • Cape Cod and the Islands: The regional SHINE office is at 508-375-6762.

Boston's Age Strong Commission suggests bringing a prescription list, insurance cards, any Medicare.gov login and a valid ID.

On language: Medicare says anyone can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, and ask for an interpreter. That helps parents more comfortable in Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Somali or another language. MassHealth's line also offers interpreters.

Step four: check for help paying Medicare costs

Some families don't know about the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). According to Mass.gov, these MassHealth-run programs can pay the Medicare Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026 under state guidelines. Some people also get help with deductibles and copays. Everyone who qualifies is automatically enrolled in Extra Help for prescription costs.

Key points from the state:

  • People with income at or below 225% of the federal poverty level may qualify. The exact dollar limits change every March 1.
  • Since March 1, 2024, there is no asset limit for MSPs.
  • You do not need to be on MassHealth to apply. The state says the application takes about five minutes, and forms are offered in several languages.

To ask about an MSP, call MassHealth at 1-800-841-2900 or ask a SHINE counselor.

Step five: guard against scams

Open Enrollment brings a lot of sales calls. Medicare.gov is clear: Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or come to your home. It warns people not to give out a Medicare or Social Security number except to trusted parties, and not to join a plan over the phone unless you made the call and asked for help. If something seems wrong, call 1-800-MEDICARE or report it on Medicare.gov.

A simple rule for the family group chat: if anyone gets a call about "new Medicare benefits," hang up and call SHINE instead.

The bottom line

With Thanksgiving in the middle of the window, Dec. 7 comes quickly. This weekend, find the Annual Notice of Change, list every medicine and book a SHINE appointment. Going through the options together over chai is a small act of care that may also save your parents money in 2027.