Brookings (10-5-26) — To help prepare area Medicare beneficiaries for 2027 open enrollment, Brookings Health System will host four sessions of the free Understanding Medicare seminar.
“Medicare can feel complicated, especially when trying to understand coverage options and make informed decisions about your health care,” said Chief Financial Officer Melissa Wagner. “This session will help local residents get answers to their questions, better understand their Medicare options, and help them feel more confident navigating the process.”
Two sessions will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Two additional sessions will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. All sessions will be held at Brookings Hospital, Conference Room A.
The program is recommended for people nearing age 65 of their initial enrollment period or those who plan to re-enroll in 2027. Information offered will help Medicare beneficiaries make an informed decision during the 2027 Medicare open enrollment period, Oct. 15 – Dec. 7.
Information offered at the seminar includes:
• Medicare basics, including what individuals need to know about benefits and options
• How to enroll in Medicare during an individual’s seven-month enrollment window
• Explanations of Medicare Parts A, B, C and D
• What to know before joining a Medicare Advantage plan
The seminar will be conducted by Senior Health Information and Insurance Education (SHIINE) . The project is supported in part by grant numbers 90MPPG0073, 90SAPG0075, 2201SDMISH, 2201SDMIAA, and 2201SDMIDR from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201, as well as South Dakota Department of Human Services. In addition, Brookings Health System representatives will be on hand to help answer questions on which plans Brookings Health participates in. Seating is limited. To register, please visit www.brookingshealth.org/Medicare or call (605) 696-8030.
About Brookings Health System
Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic & Optical, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota. It is a non-profit, municipal health system that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency and extended care services. Brookings Hospital provides local access to doctors in Brookings and offers robotic da Vinci surgery and Mako robotic-arm assisted procedures, making it one of the premier rural community hospitals in South Dakota. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org .
— From Brookings Health System
