County announces a seasonal capacity limit
Barnstable County says all of its SHINE open-enrollment appointments are full for the remainder of the season. Its October 28, 2026 notice directs people who could not obtain an appointment to 1-800-MEDICARE, or 1-800-633-4227, available around the clock.
The county also links a coverage-review checklist, a worksheet for preparing questions and an introduction to Medicare’s Plan Finder. Those resources remain available even though local appointment slots are full.
The federal deadline remains December 7
Medicare lists October 15–December 7 as the annual open-enrollment period, with changes taking effect January 1 of the following year when the plan receives the request by December 7. For this enrollment season, that means January 1, 2027.
Which changes are available depends on existing coverage. Medicare’s official guidance explains the available options by current coverage type.
