Medicare 2026

What Redlands Residents Can Change in Medicare AEP

REDLANDS, Calif. — From October 15 through December 7, people with Medicare can make changes to their coverage for 2027. It's the one stretch of the year when almost every door is open at once, and what you decide now takes effect January 1.

This year the stakes feel a little different. A new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug costs is now in place for 2026, and plan letters landing in Redlands mailboxes may show other changes to premiums, drug lists, and provider networks. That makes a careful look at your current coverage worth the hour it takes.

What you can actually do during AEP

The Annual Enrollment Period is broad on purpose. Between October 15 and December 7, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, drop one, or switch to a different one.
• Add drug coverage if you have Original Medicare and don't already have it.

Whatever you choose during this window takes effect on January 1, 2027. If you make more than one change, the last choice you submit by December 7 is the one that sticks.

Why 2027 is worth a closer look

A few program-level updates make this year's review especially useful for Redlands readers:

• $2,400 Part D cap in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered prescriptions hits $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), you pay nothing for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
• $615 maximum Part D deductible. Plans can charge less, but not more.
• No more donut hole. The old coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your drug costs into level monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. You have to opt in through your drug plan.
• IRMAA. Higher-income beneficiaries pay a surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums. For 2026, IRMAA generally begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer, based on your 2024 tax return.

What to check before December 7

Every fall, your current plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — usually by late September. It spells out what's changing for 2027. Before you decide to keep or switch coverage, run through this short list:

1. Your drugs. Is every prescription still on the plan's formulary? Did the tier or coverage rules change? 2. Your doctors and hospitals. If you're on Medicare Advantage, confirm your Redlands-area providers — including Loma Linda and the broader San Bernardino County networks — are still in-network for 2027. 3. Your pharmacy. Preferred pharmacies can change year to year, and that can affect what you pay. 4. Extra benefits. If a Medicare Advantage plan's dental, vision, or hearing benefits matter to you, make sure they still fit your needs. 5. Your total cost picture. Premium plus deductible plus expected copays — not just the sticker premium.

How Redlands fits into the picture

Redlands sits in San Bernardino County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. That means two neighbors on the same street generally see the same menu of Medicare Advantage and Part D options — but someone in a different county, even a short drive away, may see a different list.

The official Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the cleanest way to see what's offered in your ZIP code, compare drug coverage side by side, and check whether your specific medications are covered.

Where to get unbiased help

You don't have to sort this out alone, and you don't have to go through a sales call to get answers.

• medicare.gov — Plan Finder, official plan details, and enrollment.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, free.
• California SHIP (HICAP) — the state's free counseling program for Medicare. HICAP counselors don't sell plans; they help you compare. You can reach California HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.

After December 7: what's still possible

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and want to change your mind, there's a second window called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, from January 1 through March 31, 2027. During that window you can switch to a different Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan). It's narrower than AEP — you get one change, and it doesn't apply to people on Original Medicare who want to switch into Advantage.

Certain life events — moving, losing other coverage, qualifying for Extra Help — can also open a Special Enrollment Period outside these windows.