Medicare 2026

Medicare help in North Little Rock: Where to turn first

In North Little Rock, sorting out Medicare on your own can feel like a full-time job. The good news: you don't have to. Free, unbiased counseling is available through Arkansas's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and licensed local agents can walk you through your options too. Knowing the difference — and when to use each — can save you time, stress, and second-guessing.

Start with SHIP for unbiased help

Arkansas's SHIP is called the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), and it's run through the Arkansas Insurance Department. Counselors are trained volunteers and staff who don't sell insurance. That means they can walk you through your Medicare choices without any pressure to pick a particular plan or carrier.

SHIIP can help you:

• Understand the differences between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D.
• Compare plans on medicare.gov's Plan Finder using your own doctors and medications.
• Check whether you qualify for programs like Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program.
• Review a bill or coverage denial you don't understand.

You can reach Arkansas SHIIP at 1-800-224-6330. Ask about local counselors who serve the North Little Rock and Pulaski County area.

When a licensed agent makes sense

Licensed insurance agents can also be a helpful resource, especially when you're ready to actually enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. A good agent will explain their role clearly: they're paid by the carriers whose plans they sell, and they can only enroll you in plans they're contracted with.

If you go this route, it's fair to ask upfront:

• Which carriers do you represent in Pulaski County?
• Are there plans in my area you don't offer?
• Will you help me after I enroll if I have a billing or coverage question?

Look for an agent who is licensed in Arkansas and takes time to understand your doctors, prescriptions, and budget before recommending anything.

What's available in the North Little Rock area

North Little Rock is in Pulaski County, where Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. For 2026, there are 77 Medicare Advantage plans on offer in the county, with 9 carriers providing Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage (MA-PD). Stand-alone Part D plans are counted separately by CMS.

With roughly 66,665 residents age 65 or older in the county, demand for straightforward guidance is real — and that's exactly why SHIIP exists.

You may also see references to Star Ratings when you compare plans. Star Ratings are CMS's way of scoring plan quality on a 1–5 scale. They're a useful data point, but they're only one piece of the picture. Your doctors, prescriptions, and how you like to get care matter just as much.

Key 2027 numbers to keep in mind

A few program-level facts apply everywhere, including North Little Rock:

• Part D has an out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 for covered drugs.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025 — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly amounts, at no extra charge.
• IRMAA (higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher earners) starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Mark these enrollment dates

• October 15 – December 7: Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).

If you miss a window, SHIIP counselors can help you figure out whether a Special Enrollment Period applies.