According to AARP, more than 36 million beneficiaries are expected to review or change their coverage during the 2025–2026 fall open enrollment period, which starts on Oct 15 and runs through Dec 7, marking the largest number to date. Due to longer approval timelines and bureaucratic red tape, the high demand for Medicare consulting agents is expected to continue growing. Medicare Advantage plans now represent over half of beneficiaries, about 54% (34.1 million of 62 million) as of 2025. Tammy Rush, owner of Senior Benefits Consulting, sat down with Postcards to explain what’s changing—and how to keep things simple (and free) for seniors.
“We don’t charge for our services—whether someone enrolls in a plan or not,” said Rush, who started in insurance in 1999. Certified to offer Medicare Advantage since 2019, she renews her certifications annually and advises on Medicare Supplements, Advantage Plans, and prescription drug options. Partnered with Senior Health Services in Tomball, Rush operates Senior Benefits Consulting, LLC off SH105 in Montgomery, with two office administrators handling phone lines and 16 licensed agents. Regularly, they appear on The Michael Berry Show (iHeartRadio) and KHOU 11’s Great Day Houston with Deborah Duncan. Demand keeps growing. “Seniors want to retire at 65, but many can’t because of the economy,” Rush said, noting that some lost pensions during COVID and are delaying retirement closer to 70. “They’re living on Social Security and what’s left in their 401(k)s.”
“I want it to be simple,” Rush said. “I don’t want people to feel pressured.” Enrolling in Medicare can take a couple of months to get approved, which may result in coverage gaps if the timing is off. “Apply three months before your 65th birthday,” said Rush—the 90-day window cushions government delays—especially for those managing severe health conditions or expensive medications. To delay Medicare past 65 without incurring penalties, retirees must have creditable employer coverage from a company with 20 or more employees. “COBRA and most retiree plans do not qualify for delaying Part B.”
Original Medicare consists of two parts. Part A is for inpatient services like hospitalization and skilled nursing. Part B is medical for things like doctors, therapy, labs, and diagnostic tests. Having original Medicare is not enough coverage due to the gaps and out of pocket expenses not being capped. Rush urges researching coverage gaps. Her fiancé, wellness coach Jason Anderson, added: “Cancer-related costs and certain procedures may not be fully covered. Medicare also doesn’t cover long-term care or many assisted-living options.” He noted Rush helps families find solutions that fit their needs.
“Medicare Advantage plans aren’t for everybody,” Rush said. “But for many, they work—and save money.” She cautions against calling television ads and 800 numbers to talk to someone. Rather, she encourages you find someone local to work with who can educate you on all of your options, the differences between them, and how they work. Also, remember to be open-minded when looking at plans and don’t choose something simply because you know someone who did it. Everyone has different medical needs, medications, and budgets. Just because something doesn’t work for one person doesn’t mean it isn’t the right option for another. All plans are not created equal.
“I wish people wouldn’t call TV ads,” Rush said. “Those call centers aren’t checking everything. The advertisements for the grocery cards are a way to get you to call in. You have to financially qualify for those as they have income limitations that are quite low. But once they get you one the phone, they are pretty convincing about offering plans. You’ll never hear from them again, and many times they are not enrolling people in the proper plans.”
With hundreds of plan combinations, enrolling alone is confusing—and mistakes are expensive. Independent agents offer free consultations and match plans to individual doctors and drugs to avoid high-pressure sales tactics. “I am not saying get on YouTube and search there—because anyone can go out and make a Medicare video; it’s not hard,” warns Rush. “And most of them are biased.” Many low-income clients live on under $1,600/month, making it vital to budget for premiums, deductibles, and drug costs to avoid surprises. Middle-income beneficiaries do not qualify for financial assistance programs because their income is too high, but not high enough to afford annual premiums. “Medicare advantage plans and the cost of Medicare changes every year. We want to get you the most value for the best price.”
Rush’s team offers classes in person and online. Recently, she held sessions at Bryan/College Station and Round Top. Increasingly, her 16 trained agents handle onsite education for employers. “We work with all employers with employees turning 65—explaining the pros and cons of staying on group coverage. Sometimes it’s cheaper for both the worker and the employer when they move to Medicare.”
The work is overwhelming and intense—from October 15 through December 7, Rush affirms the phone rings off the hook. “During enrollment, I work 12–14-hour days for 8–10 weeks—back-to-back appointments, sometimes until 8:30 p.m.,” Rush said. “We don’t want to turn anyone away—just please be patient; there will be wait times.” Amid the rush, there’s joy: Rush is marrying fiancé Jason Anderson, a retired ironworker and wellness coach, in December. “He gets 100% credit for teaching me how to meditate,” she laughed.
Consultants like Tammy Rush play a vital role in helping retirees avoid costly mistakes and coverage gaps as plans evolve. Fall Open Enrollment runs Oct. 15–Dec. 7. For more information, call (832)-334-1124, log on to their website at retirementmadesimple4u.com, or email her at tammy@retirementmadesimple4u.com.
