North Carolina Medicare help
Medicare basics and the North Carolina-specific places to get free, unbiased help.
Medicare Open Enrollment starts October 15th
Take a look at North Carolina plans, or go ahead and enroll yourself. Call if you need any help with your application.
When you can enroll
- Initial Enrollment Period. A seven-month window around your 65th birthday (three months before, the month of, and three months after).
- Annual Enrollment Period. October 15 to December 7 each year, to join, switch or leave a Medicare Advantage or drug plan for the next year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. January 1 to March 31 for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Your county decides the plans you can choose
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered by service area, which is usually by county. Two North Carolina neighbors a county apart can have different plans, premiums and networks. Look up your county and then call to compare what is offered where you live.
Free Medicare counseling in North Carolina
SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program) (855-408-1212) is North Carolina’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its counselors do not sell insurance, and it is a good second opinion on any plan you are considering.
Important disclosure
We do not offer every plan available in your area. We represent a limited number of organizations, which offer a limited number of products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program to get information on all of your options. North Carolina Medical Insurance is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Questions
Do I have to enroll in anything if I call?
No. A call is a conversation about your options. You are never required to enroll.
What if I missed my Initial Enrollment Period?
You may owe a late-enrollment penalty for Part B and Part D, and you may have to wait for a general or annual enrollment period. A licensed agent or your SHIP counselor can look at your specific dates.
Is there help that is not tied to an insurance company in North Carolina?
Yes: SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program) at 855-408-1212.
Talk with a licensed agent about North Carolina coverage
Call Lander LLC to go over your options. There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent, and you are never required to enroll in anything.
Call 855-367-1095Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.