Buncombe County Nonprofit Offers Free Medicare Digital Training Amid Plan Cuts

Eleven Medicare Advantage plans offered in Buncombe County, North Carolina, will cease local operations in 2027, according to an analysis of federal data by Medicare On Main. As of September, at least 2,064 residents were enrolled in those specific plans. Not all enrolled individuals will require replacement coverage, but many face mandatory decisions as their current options disappear from the local market.

The Council on Aging of Buncombe County reports that some remaining plans are increasing premiums, copays, and deductibles for the coming year. These cost adjustments place additional financial pressure on seniors living on fixed incomes. Sue Adams, a longtime volunteer with the council, noted that even when individuals do not actively change plans, the plans themselves alter terms. She stated, "Even if they don’t make changes, the plan makes changes." Adams added that large increases in health care costs, whether for drug plans or copays, significantly impact senior budgets.

Jennifer Jacobs, the Medicare manager at the Council on Aging, said rising medical and prescription drug costs are adding pressure as seniors review their coverage. The nonprofit is currently seeing high demand for assistance. Medicare counseling appointments in Buncombe and Henderson counties are already full, with counselors operating from a waitlist.

A growing digital divide is complicating the decision process for older adults. Jacobs said that as more Medicare resources move online, some seniors struggle to compare prescription drug coverage, participating doctors, and available plans on digital platforms. She observed, "Just finding information, searching for plans, all of that’s very confusing to people that are not so tech savvy."

To address these challenges, the Council on Aging is partnering with North Carolina’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program and Land of Sky Regional Council’s WestNGN initiative to offer free Medicare.gov education. The program provides hands-on assistance with creating accounts, entering medication lists, selecting preferred pharmacies, and checking health care providers. Medicare counselors and technical advisers will be available to answer questions during the sessions.

The training is scheduled for Nov. 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Groce United Methodist Church, located at 954 Tunnel Road in Asheville. Regular Medicare open enrollment ends on Dec. 7, with coverage changes taking effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Residents whose Medicare Advantage plans are not renewed may qualify for a special enrollment period through Feb. 28, 2027.