Last week, while talking to my mom, we discussed the mailbox. She mentioned that insurance company envelopes arrive several times a day, and she doesn't know which ones to open.

I think this is a scene that many Korean families living in the U.S. experience around this time. It's the Medicare open enrollment season.

So today, I want to summarize the free Medicare consultations available in Orange County through HICAP. This information is essential for children who are looking into this for their parents.

First, let's go over the dates. The Medicare open enrollment for choosing the 2027 plan starts on October 15, 2026, and ends on December 7, 2026.

Changes made during this period will take effect on January 1, 2027. After December 7, most people will stick with their plans for the following year.

There are quite a few things you can do during this period. You can switch between Medicare Advantage plans, transition between Original Medicare and Advantage, and add or change Part D drug plans.

Now, what is HICAP? It stands for Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, which is a free Medicare counseling program operated at the state level in California.

In Orange County, it is managed by a nonprofit organization called Council on Aging - Southern California. The biggest advantage is that they are not selling insurance, so they don't push specific plans.

Honestly, this is what I like most about it. TV ads and telemarketing are ultimately commission-based, so there aren't many places to get neutral explanations.

You can contact them at 714-560-0424 or 800-434-0222. Their operating hours are listed as weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM, but it varies slightly by source, so it's a good idea to check their website before calling.

The website is coasc.org/hicap. Consultations are said to take place at senior centers or community centers throughout the county, as well as at the HICAP office in Irvine.

If you live near Anaheim, it's quickest to call and ask if there are any upcoming schedules at the nearest senior center. I couldn't find any publicly available information on this year's consultation locations.

Here's an important point: just because the deadline is December 7 doesn't mean you should wait until the first week of December to contact them.

Right before the deadline, many people, like me, tend to procrastinate and contact them, which may result in not getting the desired date. So if you read this, I recommend calling within this week.

There's also a specific reason why consultations are particularly needed this year. The numbers for Part D will change significantly in 2027.

According to CMS, the standard deductible for Part D will increase from $615 in 2026 to $700 in 2027. That's an $85 difference, which is not insignificant.

The out-of-pocket maximum will also rise from $2,100 to $2,400. Once you exceed this limit, you won't have to pay for covered drug costs for the remainder of the year.

However, $700 is the maximum for the standard plan. Depending on the plan, some may have lower or even no deductibles, so you need to compare directly with your medication list.

Additionally, there have been reports that some Medicare Advantage plans will withdraw from certain areas. You must check the Annual Notice of Change that was mailed to you to see if your current plan will remain the same next year.

Before going for a consultation, let's organize what to prepare. Just bringing these items will make the consultation much more productive.

First, your red, white, and blue Medicare card and the card for your current plan. Second, a note with the names, dosages, and monthly quantities of the medications you are taking.

Third, the names of your frequently visited doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. Fourth, the Annual Notice of Change mail from your plan.

If your parents are not comfortable with English, be sure to ask when making the appointment if interpretation services are available. Having a child present can make it much easier when reviewing documents later.

If the timing doesn't work out, you can also use the Plan Finder on Medicare.gov to input your zip code and medication list to compare in advance. Bringing that information to HICAP will help you ask more specific questions.

For your information, Advantage plan enrollees have another opportunity to change between January 1 and March 31. However, it's much less stressful to choose correctly from the start.

Of course, the right insurance varies depending on health status, income, and medications used. Since it differs by individual circumstances, be sure to confirm with an expert like a HICAP counselor before making a final decision.

I believe that these free public consultations need to be more widely known. There are many people who suffer losses due to a lack of information.

If it were me, I would call my parents tonight to organize the medication list together. Then, I would make the reservation call to HICAP at 8 AM tomorrow morning.