New “Demystifying Medicare” Workshops in the Fall of 2026
“Demystifying Medicare” is a free, upbeat, comprehensive workshop for anyone who needs to understand how Medicare works — not only for people wanting to explore their options, but for those soon to be Medicare-eligible, approaching retirement, or helping relatives or friends with their medical decisions and paperwork.
A complete understanding of the whole system is key to making the best personal health coverage choices. Topics included are Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, Medigaps (or supplements), EPIC, and cost-saving programs for people with limited resources.
People should be aware that recent legislative changes have affected broker commissions and the protocols for meeting with prospective enrollees. These changes may influence how information is presented and underscore the importance of seeking clear, complete, and up-to-date information when evaluating coverage options.
Volunteers presenting the “Demystifying Medicare” workshop and offering the individual counseling at the SBIC centers mentioned below are unaffiliated with any health insurance company, provider, or Medicare itself. They are HIICAP-certified counselors working in partnership with the Westchester Library System and Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (914) 813-6100.
The audio version of this workshop, handouts, displays and upcoming presentations can be found at seniors.westchesterlibraries.org/demystifyingmedicare/. Pre-registration is requested at the numbers listed for each event, or on the WLS voicemail (914) 231-3236.
Walk-in SBIC (Senior Benefits Individual Counseling) sessions are available at the Hart, Will and Greenburgh libraries during Fall Enrollment, 10 am – 1pm: check seniors.westchester libraries.org/senior-benefits/ for updates. Some questions can be answered by phone if contact info is left on the Helpline (914) 813-6100 for a call back. It’s also possible to schedule an individual counseling session to meet with a counselor at a convenient location.
Area locations include:
Harrison: Monday, October 5 at 5:30pm at the Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Avenue.
Rye: Saturday, October 24 at 10:15am at the Rye Free Reading Room, 1061 Boston Post Road.
Pelham: Thursday, October 29 at 5:30pm at the Town of Pelham Public Library, 530 Colonial Avenue.
Scarsdale: Saturday, November 7 at 9:30am at the Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road.