Medicare 2026
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period in Iowa City ends Dec 7
IOWA CITY — The clock is ticking on Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7. Whatever changes you make now will shape your coverage — and your out-of-pocket costs — starting January 1, 2027.
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Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, and any changes you make will start January 1, 2027.
- After December 7, options are limited to a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) that only lets people already in a Medicare Advantage plan switch plans or return to Original Medicare.
- Before deciding, check your plan's Annual Notice of Change (usually arriving in September) and review your drug list, pharmacy network status, doctor and hospital coverage, extra benefits, and total expected costs rather than just the premium.
- Free, unbiased help is available through Iowa's SHIIP program, 1-800-MEDICARE, or medicare.gov if you want support reviewing your options.
Iowa City retirees have until Dec. 7 to lock in 2027 Medicare coverage
This is the one time of year when almost every Medicare option is on the table. If you've been putting off reviewing your plan, the next few weeks are when it matters most.
What you can actually do during AEP
The Annual Enrollment Period isn't just for people switching plans. It's a window when the Medicare program lets you make several different kinds of changes. During AEP, you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare 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.
Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027. After December 7, your options narrow. There's a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, but it's limited — it only lets people already in a Medicare Advantage plan switch to another one or return to Original Medicare.
Why 2027 is worth a closer look
A few program-level changes make this fall's review especially worthwhile:
- A higher cap on Part D drug costs. The out-of-pocket limit for covered prescriptions on a Medicare drug plan is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
- The Part D deductible maxes out at $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027. Plans can charge less, but not more.
- The "donut hole" is gone. Since 2025, Part D has just three phases — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic — instead of the old four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments through the year instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. You have to opt in; it's not automatic.
- IRMAA surcharges — the extra amounts higher-income beneficiaries pay for Parts B and D — kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
Even if your plan seemed fine last year, formularies (the list of covered drugs), pharmacy networks, and cost-sharing can change. Every fall, plans send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — usually arriving in September. That's the document to dig out before you decide.
What to check on your plan before December 7
A useful review takes maybe 30 minutes. Focus on:
1. Your drug list. Are all your prescriptions still covered next year? Are any moving to a higher cost tier? 2. Your pharmacy. Is it still "preferred" in your plan's network? That can change your costs significantly. 3. Your doctors and hospitals. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, confirm your providers — including anyone at University of Iowa Health Care or Mercy Iowa City — are still in-network for 2027. 4. Extra benefits. Dental, vision, hearing, and over-the-counter benefits vary by plan and can change year to year. 5. Your total expected cost, not just the premium. A low premium with high copays can cost more than the reverse.
What's available in the Iowa City area
Iowa City is in Johnson County, where multiple Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans were offered for 2026. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Availability, networks, and drug coverage vary by plan, so the specifics matter more than the totals. The Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code and your prescriptions to see how each option would work for you personally.
Free, unbiased help in Iowa
You don't have to sort this out alone. Iowa's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — called SHIIP here — offers free, one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers who don't sell insurance. You can reach SHIIP through the Iowa Insurance Division at 1-800-351-4664.
You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7, or visit medicare.gov.
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 Johnson County
(MA penetration in Johnson 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.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline?
Do I have to do anything if I'm happy with my current plan?
Can I switch Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans during AEP?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.