Medicare 2026

Denver Medicare 2027: your choices between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, and where to get help

Denver — Fall 2026 is decision season for Medicare. From October 15 through December 7, 2026, people with Medicare who live in Denver can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, or return to Original Medicare. Whatever you choose during the window takes effect January 1, 2027.

If you do nothing, nothing dramatic happens: your current plan simply renews for 2027 if it is still offered, with the changes spelled out in the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan mailed in September. The point of the window is to make sure the plan you renew into is still the one you want.

What you can actually change during the window

The Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP, is the one time of year when almost any Medicare coverage choice is on the table. Between October 15 and December 7, 2026, you can:

• Join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time, or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
• Join a stand‑alone Part D prescription drug plan, switch Part D plans, or drop Part D.

One note for Denver: Colorado's stand‑alone Part D market looks different this year, and most Medicare Advantage plans in Denver County already include drug coverage. The table below lists every Medicare Advantage plan available in the county for 2026 so you can see which carriers serve the area.

If you miss December 7, there is a smaller second window — the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31, 2027 — but it is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan who want to switch once or drop back to Original Medicare.

What's actually new for 2027

A few program‑level numbers are already confirmed by CMS for 2027:

• The Part D out‑of‑pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026.
• The Part D national base beneficiary premium is $41.33 for 2027. That is a formula input CMS uses, not the premium any specific plan charges.

Two big numbers are not yet announced: the 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets for higher‑income surcharges. CMS typically publishes these in the fall, often in November. Don't rely on projections floating around online — wait for the official figures.

The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") remains gone; Part D has three phases now, and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is still available if you want to spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.

Denver's local lineup

Plan availability is set at the county level. Denver is in Denver County, where CMS's 2026 Landscape lists 71 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers, including HMO, HMO‑POS and PPO plans, plus 28 Special Needs Plans for people who qualify (for example, dual eligibles with Medicare and Medicaid).

The carriers offering Medicare Advantage in Denver County for 2026 are Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Clear Spring Health, Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), Elevate Medicare Advantage, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Longevity Health Plan, Perennial Advantage, Select Health, and UnitedHealthcare.

For 2027, CMS data shows some turnover in the county: roughly 18 plans not returning, 11 new plans, and 14 renamed plans. If your plan name has changed, or your plan is leaving, your ANOC and non‑renewal letter will say so — read them carefully before December 7.

How to decide — a simple checklist

Instead of starting with "which plan is best," start with your own year:

1. Read your ANOC. Look for changes to the monthly premium, deductibles, the drug formulary, and copays for the services you actually use. 2. List your drugs. Write down each prescription, the dose, and how often you take it. Drug coverage is where plans differ most year to year. 3. List your doctors and hospitals. If you want a specific Denver‑area clinic or specialist, confirm they are in‑network for 2027 before you commit. 4. Check whether you qualify for extra help. Programs like Extra Help (Part D) and Medicare Savings Programs can lower costs; the SHIP counselors below can screen you. 5. Compare on Medicare's Plan Finder. At medicare.gov/plan-compare, enter your ZIP code and drug list to see personalized out‑of‑pocket estimates for each plan.

Original Medicare plus a stand‑alone drug plan (and often a Medigap policy) is a different path from Medicare Advantage. Neither is universally "better" — it depends on your doctors, your drugs, your travel habits and your budget. That is exactly the kind of question a SHIP counselor can walk through with you.

Where to get free local help in Denver

Colorado's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is called Colorado SHIP, run through the Colorado Division of Insurance. SHIP counselors are trained volunteers and staff who give free, unbiased, one‑on‑one help with Medicare questions. They do not sell plans and are not paid on commission.

• Colorado SHIP: 1‑888‑696‑7213, or doi.colorado.gov (search "SHIP").
• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Area Agency on Aging: offers Medicare counseling for Denver residents; call 303‑480‑6700.
• Medicare directly: medicare.gov or 1‑800‑MEDICARE (1‑800‑633‑4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Social Security for Part B enrollment and IRMAA questions: ssa.gov or 1‑800‑772‑1213.

Appointments fill up in October and November, so if you want to sit down with a counselor, call early.