Medicare 2026

Oct 15 opens Medicare's yearly review window in Elkhart

ELKHART, Ind. — Starting Wednesday, Oct. 15, Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period opens, giving people on Medicare in Elkhart until Sunday, Dec. 7, to review, switch, or drop their coverage for 2027. Any changes you make during this window take effect Jan. 1. It's the one time each year almost everyone with Medicare can make a change, no questions asked — and skipping the review can leave you locked into a plan that no longer fits.

What you can actually do between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the widest open door in Medicare. During these eight weeks, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, switch plans, or drop drug coverage.
• Add Part D if you didn't sign up when you were first eligible (a late-enrollment penalty may apply).

Whatever you choose, coverage begins Jan. 1, 2027. If you make more than one change during the window, the last choice you make by Dec. 7 is the one that sticks.

Why 2027 is worth a fresh look

Even if you like your current coverage, plans change every year — formularies, pharmacy networks, provider networks, and costs can all shift. A few program-level updates make this year's review especially worthwhile:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches that amount, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year. The cap is $2,100 in 2026.
• Part D deductible capped at $615. No stand-alone Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan can charge more than that as its annual deductible.
• No more "donut hole." Since 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four — the coverage gap is gone.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your yearly drug costs into predictable monthly payments instead of paying a large amount at the pharmacy counter. You can opt in through your drug plan.
• IRMAA thresholds. Higher-income beneficiaries pay a surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums; for 2026, the surcharge starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer (based on your 2024 tax return).

Plan choices in the Elkhart area

Elkhart is in Elkhart County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. That means every Medicare-eligible resident of Elkhart chooses from the same set of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans offered in Elkhart County. The list is refreshed for 2027, and carriers can add plans, retire plans, or change what's covered from year to year — which is exactly why an annual check-up matters. The 2027 lineup is spelled out in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

You can see the full lineup for your ZIP code using the Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare.

How to decide what fits

There's no single "right" plan — the right plan is the one that fits your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget. A useful checklist:

1. List your doctors and hospitals. If you're on Medicare Advantage or considering it, confirm each provider is in the plan's 2027 network. 2. List your prescriptions with exact doses. Drug plans use formularies, and a drug that's covered in 2026 may be tiered differently — or not covered — in 2027. 3. Think about how you use care. Do you travel often? See specialists frequently? Prefer predictable copays or lower monthly premiums? 4. Check the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your current plan mailed this in September. It spells out exactly what's changing for 2027. 5. Compare total yearly cost, not just the premium. Deductibles, copays, and the drugs you actually take matter more than the sticker price.

What if you miss Dec. 7?

If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, Jan. 1 through March 31, 2027. During that window you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan). You cannot use this period to join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you're in Original Medicare.

Outside of these windows, you generally need a Special Enrollment Period — triggered by life events like moving, losing other coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help.

Where to get free, unbiased help in Elkhart

You don't have to sort this out alone, and you don't have to talk to a salesperson to get answers.

• Medicare.gov — the official Plan Finder and enrollment tool.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, TTY 1-877-486-2048.
• Indiana SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — free, one-on-one Medicare counseling from trained volunteers. Call 1-800-452-4800 to find a counselor near Elkhart.