Medicare 2026

Pasadena Medicare Annual Enrollment ends December 7

PASADENA, Calif. — The clock is ticking on Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period, which runs through December 7. If you live in Pasadena and have Medicare, this is the yearly window when you can review your coverage and make changes that will take effect January 1, 2027.

This fall matters more than usual. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027, and drug plans across the country are adjusting. That makes it a smart season to actually open your renewal notice and read it — not just toss it on the counter.

What you can actually do between now and December 7

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the one time each fall when almost anyone with Medicare can make changes. During this window, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
• Sign up for Part D for the first time if you missed your initial window (a late enrollment penalty may apply).

Whatever change you make by December 7 starts on January 1, 2027.

Why this fall's review is different

Two program-level changes are worth understanding before you decide anything:

A higher out-of-pocket cap. In 2027, no one with a Medicare Part D plan will pay more than $2,400 out of pocket for covered prescription drugs in a calendar year. That's up from $2,100 in 2026, and it applies across all Part D plans.

The coverage gap is gone. The old "donut hole" was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic — instead of four.

There's also the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. It doesn't lower what you owe, but it can smooth out the cash flow if you have expensive medications early in the year.

How to decide what fits you

Pasadena is in Los Angeles County, where the number of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available is among the largest in California. That's good news for choice — and it also means comparing plans by hand is nearly impossible. Here's a practical way to sort through it:

1. Start with your drugs. Make a list of every prescription you take, the dose, and how often. Then use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to check whether each plan covers those drugs and at what tier. 2. Check your doctors. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan or considering one, confirm your doctors and preferred hospitals are in-network for 2027. Networks can change from year to year. 3. Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). If you're already in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, this document — mailed in September — spells out what's changing next year. It's the single most useful piece of paper in your mailbox this fall. 4. Think about how you use care. Someone with steady prescriptions and regular specialist visits may weigh plans differently than someone who is generally healthy and travels often.

A note on higher-income enrollees

If your income is above $109,000 as a single filer (or $218,000 filing jointly) based on your 2024 tax return, you'll pay an IRMAA surcharge on top of your standard Part B and Part D premiums in 2026. This doesn't change what plans you can join, but it's worth factoring into your household budget.

What if you miss December 7?

You still have some options, but they're narrower.

• If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31. During that time, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop yours and return to Original Medicare (with a Part D plan).
• Certain life events — like moving out of your plan's service area or losing other coverage — can trigger a Special Enrollment Period.
• Otherwise, you generally wait until next fall.

Where to get unbiased help in Pasadena

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't need to talk to an agent to get answers. Free, one-on-one counseling is available through:

• Medicare.gov — the official Plan Finder tool lets you enter your ZIP code and medications to compare plans.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
• California's SHIP program, called HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program), which serves Los Angeles County residents including Pasadena. HICAP counselors are trained volunteers who don't sell insurance.