Medicare 2026

Livermore Medicare checklist: what to review and change before the Dec. 7 deadline

LIVERMORE, Calif. — The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is open through Dec. 7, and anything you change now takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. If you are on Medicare in Livermore, this is the once-a-year window when you can switch how your coverage is set up — not just which plan you have, but what kind of plan it is.

Medicare 2026Livermore, CA

This fall also brings a notable shift on the drug side: in 2026, Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 for the year, a figure worth keeping in mind as you compare your options for 2027.

What is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period deadline in Livermore?

The deadline is Dec. 7. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 every year, and any change you make during that window starts Jan. 1 of the next year — so decisions made this fall shape your 2027 coverage.

If you miss Dec. 7, your current coverage simply rolls into 2027 as-is, with whatever changes your plan has already announced in its Annual Notice of Change.

What can I actually change during AEP in Livermore?

During AEP you can make any of the following changes, and they all take effect Jan. 1, 2027:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, switch Part D plans, or drop Part D entirely.

One important note: AEP is not the main window for buying or switching a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. Medigap has its own rules, and in California those rules include a yearly "birthday rule" opportunity. If Medigap is on your mind, call 1-800-MEDICARE or check medicare.gov for how and when you can apply.

How should Livermore residents decide what to review?

Start with the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your current plan mailed you in late September. That document shows what is changing for 2027 — premium, deductible, drug tiers, provider network, and extras. Even if you like your plan, the plan itself may be different next year.

Then make two short lists before you compare anything:

• The doctors, specialists and hospitals in Livermore and the Tri-Valley you want to keep using.
• Every prescription you take, with the dose and how often you fill it.

With those in hand, the Plan Finder at medicare.gov can show you how each available plan would handle your specific drugs and whether your providers are in-network. Livermore is in Alameda County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level, so what you see reflects Alameda County's lineup.

What Part D changes should I know about for 2026 and 2027?

For 2026, Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs, and plan deductibles cannot exceed $615. The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four.

You can also opt into the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which spreads your out-of-pocket drug costs across monthly bills instead of paying the full amount at the pharmacy counter. It does not lower what you owe; it just smooths out the timing. Any Part D or Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage must offer it if you ask.

Figures for 2027 are not finalized here, so compare 2027 plans using the details each plan posts during AEP.

What if I have higher income — does IRMAA apply?

If your 2024 income was above $109,000 as a single filer (or above the married-filing-jointly threshold), you may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA, on top of your Part B and Part D premiums in 2026. Social Security sends a letter if this applies to you. If your income has dropped due to a life event like retirement or the death of a spouse, you can ask Social Security to reconsider.

What happens after December 7 in Livermore?

After Dec. 7, your 2027 coverage is locked in — with one exception. If you end up on a Medicare Advantage plan and change your mind, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs Jan. 1 through March 31, 2027. During that window you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan once, or go back to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. That window is not open to people who stay on Original Medicare.