Medicare 2026
Two shapes of Medicare for Plainfield residents turning 65
PLAINFIELD, Ind. — If you are turning 65 in Plainfield, or helping a parent sort through the mail piling up on the kitchen counter, you have probably noticed something confusing. Medicare is one program, but it comes in two very different shapes. You can stay with Original Medicare and add a Medigap policy, or you can choose a Medicare Advantage plan. Both are legal, both are common, and they work in very different ways.
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Key takeaways
- Original Medicare has two parts and leaves you responsible for deductibles and coinsurance with no yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs, so many people add a Medigap policy to cover the leftover expenses.
- With Original Medicare plus Medigap, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, with no network or referral rules.
- Medicare Advantage plans bundle coverage through a private plan, often include drug coverage and extras like dental, vision, or hearing, but use provider networks, may need prior authorization, and set their own copays and yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
- Hendricks County residents typically have a range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans to compare each fall, and current options can be checked at Medicare.gov.
Two paths, one Medicare
Understanding that structural difference — before the ads and the phone calls start — makes every other decision easier.
Path 1: Original Medicare plus Medigap
Original Medicare is the traditional, federally run program. It has two parts:
- Part A helps pay for hospital stays, skilled nursing, and some home health care.
- Part B helps pay for doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventive services.
Original Medicare pays its share, and you pay the rest — deductibles, coinsurance, and so on. There is no yearly limit on what you could owe out of pocket. That is where Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance) comes in. A Medigap policy, sold by a private insurance company, helps cover those leftover costs.
With this path, you also usually add a stand-alone Part D plan for prescription drugs. You can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare — no network, no referrals.
Path 2: Medicare Advantage (Part C)
A Medicare Advantage plan is a private plan approved by Medicare that bundles your coverage together. Instead of Medicare paying your doctors directly, the plan does. Most Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, and many include extras Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as routine dental, vision, or hearing benefits.
The trade-off is structure. Advantage plans use provider networks (HMO or PPO), may require prior authorization for certain services, and set their own copays and yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Your care generally has to stay inside the plan's rules.
Plainfield is in Hendricks County, where residents typically have a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone Part D plans to compare each fall. The exact count changes every year — you can look up current options at Medicare.gov.
How to think about the choice
There is no single "right" path. It usually comes down to a few honest questions:
- Doctors: Do you want to keep seeing specific providers, or are you comfortable using a network?
- Travel: Do you spend long stretches outside Indiana? Original Medicare travels more easily.
- Budget style: Do you prefer steadier monthly premiums (Medigap) or lower premiums with copays as you use care (Advantage)?
- Health today: Medigap has its strongest enrollment protections when you first become eligible for Medicare. Waiting can make it harder or more expensive to get later, depending on your health.
- Prescriptions: Which plan covers your specific drugs on its formulary?
2026 and 2027 numbers worth knowing
A few program-wide figures apply no matter which path you pick:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026. Once your covered drug costs hit that amount, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D deductible can be up to $615.
- The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA — an income-based surcharge on Part B and Part D — starts above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.
Key dates for Plainfield readers
- October 15 – December 7: Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
- January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in an Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
- Your Initial Enrollment Period: The seven-month window around your 65th birthday, when Medigap protections are strongest.
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 Hendricks County
(MA penetration in Hendricks 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.
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.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can I have both Medigap and Medicare Advantage?
If I start with Medicare Advantage, can I switch to Medigap later?
Does Original Medicare include prescription drugs?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.