Hillsborough County at a glance
From CMS's public county-level Medicare file. The figure describes the county as a whole, not any one person's options.
Medicare in Hillsborough County (CMS data)
CMS counts 274,266 people in Hillsborough County as eligible for Medicare, and about 63% of them (172,181) are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (CMS, September 2026).
Hillsborough County's Medicare population
In CMS's September 2026 county file, about 63% of Hillsborough County's Medicare-eligible residents were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
That share is a description of the county as a whole. It does not mean Medicare Advantage is the right fit for any one person, and the rest get their Medicare in other ways, most often through Original Medicare. The two paths work differently on provider networks, how costs are shared and how coverage travels outside the area.
If you are comparing the two for the first time, our guide to what Medicare is explains the parts in plain language before you talk to anyone.
Where SHINE counsels in Hillsborough County
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is Florida's State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Its Hillsborough County listing includes Senior Connection Center in Tampa, the Brandon Senior Center, a recreation center in Temple Terrace and a library in Ruskin, among others. Most sites work by appointment, and some have limited or changing hours.
Calling ahead is the reliable way in. Florida's statewide SHINE line and the state's insurance consumer helpline are listed on the Medicare in Florida guide.
Medicare enrollment periods in Hillsborough County
Medicare's enrollment windows are set by federal rules, so they are the same in Hillsborough County as everywhere else. The 2026 Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. Changes made during the Annual Enrollment Period take effect January 1, 2027.
IEP
Initial Enrollment Period
The Initial Enrollment Period is your personal seven-month window around your 65th birthday. It opens three months before the month you turn 65 and closes three months after. This is when most people enroll in Medicare for the first time.
AEP
Annual Enrollment Period
The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During AEP, people with Medicare can enroll in, change, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan. Changes made during AEP take effect on January 1 of the following year.
MA OEP
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31. During this window, people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can make one change: to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare, with or without a Part D plan. The change takes effect the first of the month after the plan gets the request.
SEP
Special Enrollment Periods
Special Enrollment Periods open when specific life events happen, such as losing employer coverage or moving to a new area. The timing depends on the event, and Medicare.gov explains the rules for each one.
Where to get Medicare help in Hillsborough County
These public programs are listed by official sources. Each one links to the page it came from.
SHINE counseling in Hillsborough County
Florida's SHINE program lists counseling sites across Hillsborough County, including Senior Connection Center in Tampa, the Brandon Senior Center and a recreation center in Temple Terrace, mostly by appointment. For appointments at several of the county's sites, the listing gives 1-800-336-2226.
Medicare counseling (SHIP)
Florida's State Health Insurance Assistance Program is SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Trained volunteers provide unbiased, confidential, one-on-one help with Medicare questions. Phone: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).
Source: SHINE (floridashine.org)
State insurance consumer help
In Florida, the Division of Consumer Services at the Florida Department of Financial Services offers information and assistance for insurance consumers. Its helpline is 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236), Monday through Friday.
How a licensed independent agent helps in Hillsborough County
A licensed independent insurance agent can explain how the parts of Medicare fit together, walk through the enrollment windows that apply to you, and review the plans the agent offers in Hillsborough County. The review is educational, and there is no obligation to enroll.
Counselors at a State Health Insurance Assistance Program do not sell insurance. An agent can help with an application, but can only discuss the plans that agent offers, which is why the plan-availability disclosure appears next to the request button on this page.
Before a review, it can help to read about the Annual Enrollment Period and the Special Enrollment Periods that open after certain life events. The Medicare in Florida guide covers the statewide counseling program and consumer contacts.
Have questions? Review your options with a licensed agent.
Review your Medicare options in Hillsborough County
Answer a few questions and a licensed agent will follow up to walk through the plans they offer in your area. Educational, no pressure, and no obligation to enroll.
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FAQ
Medicare questions from Hillsborough County
Other county guides in Florida
The same educational guide for other Florida counties.
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Related reading
Medicare in Florida
Enrollment periods, statewide counseling and consumer help in Florida.
Read more
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
What the October 15 through December 7 window allows.
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What is Medicare?
A plain-language beginner's guide.
Read more
Medicare Special Enrollment Periods
Life events that open a window outside AEP.
Read more