Medicare 2026
Medicare Annual Enrollment in Laurel runs through December 7
LAUREL, Del. — The clock is ticking on Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period. Between now and December 7, people with Medicare in Laurel can review, switch, or drop their coverage for 2027 — and the choices they make (or skip) this fall will shape their costs and care all next year.
Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.
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Key takeaways
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, and any changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
- You can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Part D drug plans, or join a plan for the first time.
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- Laurel is in Sussex County, where plan choices are set at the county level — check what is available at your address on Medicare.gov.
This window matters because it is the main chance most people get each year to change how they receive Medicare. After December 7, options narrow considerably.
What you can actually do before December 7
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is not just for new enrollees. During this window you can:
- Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Join, switch, or drop a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
- Move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or the other way around.
Whatever you choose takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, in most cases your current plan simply renews — but the plan's costs, drug list, or provider network may not be the same next year.
Why this fall deserves a fresh look
Several program-level changes are now in place under the Inflation Reduction Act, and they affect anyone with Part D coverage:
- A cap on out-of-pocket drug costs. The Part D cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that number, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs the rest of the year.
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This is an optional program that lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy counter. You can opt in through your Part D plan.
- Part D deductible ceiling of $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027 (plans can charge less, but not more).
Even if your health has not changed, your plan's formulary or pharmacy network might have. It is worth a look.
Read your plan's Annual Notice of Change
If you are already in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should have received an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September. This is the document that spells out what is different for 2027 — premium, drug tiers, copays, network. Comparing your ANOC against your current use of the plan is the single most useful thing you can do before December 7.
What's available around Laurel
Laurel is in Sussex County, where the specific menu of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans is determined at the county level. The number and mix of plans can change year to year as carriers enter or leave the market. To see the exact plans offered at your ZIP code, use the Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A note on higher-income enrollees
If your income is above $109,000 as a single filer (or $218,000 filing jointly), you may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) on top of your standard Part B and Part D premiums in 2026. The Social Security Administration uses your tax return from two years earlier to decide this. If your income has dropped since then — for example, because you retired — you can ask Social Security to reconsider.
If you miss December 7
There is a smaller second window called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, running January 1 through March 31. During those three months, people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to a different Advantage plan or move back to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan). It does not, however, let someone in Original Medicare join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time. So December 7 remains the deadline that matters most.
Where to get free, unbiased help in Delaware
You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't need to pay anyone. Delaware's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — known locally as ELDERinfo — offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling. Trained counselors do not sell plans and are not paid by insurance companies. Delaware residents can reach ELDERinfo through the Delaware Department of Insurance at 1-800-336-9500.
For plan comparisons and enrollment, the official tools are at Medicare.gov or by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Sussex County
(MA penetration in Sussex County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to make Medicare changes for 2027?
Do I have to do anything if I like my current plan?
Can I switch plans again after December 7?
Is there really a cap on prescription drug costs in 2027?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Laurel
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This page was last updated: September 29, 2026.