Medicare 2026
Medicare in Iowa for 2027: 18 Advantage Plans Leaving, 19 New, and What Else Changes
DES MOINES — Iowans with Medicare will see a mostly steady Medicare Advantage landscape for 2027, with 74 plans offered across the state's 99 counties compared with 73 in 2026. Underneath that near-even number, though, there is real movement: 18 plans are not returning anywhere in Iowa, 19 new plans are entering, and 26 continuing plans are changing in some way — a different premium, drug deductible, plan type, or plan name. The yearly Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and the choice a person makes during it takes effect January 1, 2027.
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Key takeaways
- Iowa goes from 73 Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 to 74 in 2027, with 18 leaving, 19 new, and 26 changing details.
- If a plan is not returning in 2027, the member gets a non-renewal letter and a Special Enrollment Period that runs through the end of February 2027.
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap moves from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027, and no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700.
- Compare options at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE before the December 7, 2026 deadline.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium (2026) | $202.90 | Medicare.gov |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2026) | $2,100 | CMS |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2027) | $2,400 | CMS |
| Annual Enrollment Period (for 2027 coverage) | October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare.gov |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31 | Medicare.gov |
Area counts are for the county as a whole and are not a recommendation of any plan. Program figures are set nationally.
How is Iowa's Medicare Advantage lineup changing for 2027?
Iowa will have 74 Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, up from 73 in 2026, spread across all 99 counties. Within that total, 18 plans are leaving the state entirely, 19 new plans are coming in, and 26 continuing plans are changing at least one feature — the premium, the drug deductible, the plan type, or the plan name. Two carriers will not offer a Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in Iowa for 2027: Passport Advantage and Wellmark Advantage Health Plan. Two carriers are new to the Iowa Medicare Advantage market for 2027: Align Senior Care and Molina Healthcare of Iowa, Inc. Because Medicare Advantage plans are offered county by county, a plan counted in the statewide total may or may not be available in any one person's county. The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov shows what is actually offered at a given ZIP code.
What should I do if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving Iowa in 2027?
If a plan is not returning for 2027, the insurer must send a non-renewal letter, and the member qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 28, 2027 to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. Every Medicare Advantage and Part D member should also watch the mail in September 2026 for the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which spells out what is different about the plan for 2027. Reading the ANOC side by side with current coverage is the simplest way to see whether the premium, drug deductible, plan type, or plan name has shifted among the 26 Iowa plans that are changing. Anyone whose plan is continuing without major changes does not need to do anything to stay enrolled, but the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 through December 7, 2026 is still the time to compare.
Which Iowa counties are seeing the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?
Five eastern and northeastern Iowa counties stand out for 2027. In Clayton County, 16 plans are leaving and 10 are changing. In Delaware County, 11 are leaving and 12 are changing. In Fayette County, 14 are leaving and 9 are changing. In Jackson County, 10 are leaving and 13 are changing. In Jones County, 10 are leaving and 12 are changing. Residents of those counties are the most likely to need to make an active choice for 2027, either because their current plan will not exist or because something about it is different. The specific plans available in each county appear on the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov when a ZIP code is entered.
How many stand-alone Part D drug plans will Iowa have in 2027?
Iowa will have 9 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, down from 11 in 2026, offered by 5 insurers. Stand-alone Part D is the drug coverage that pairs with Original Medicare (and sometimes with a Medigap policy). Two national Part D rules apply everywhere in 2027: the out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700. Formularies, pharmacy networks, and premiums are set plan by plan and are listed on Medicare.gov.
How many Medigap insurers are listed for Iowa in 2027?
Medicare.gov lists 29 Medigap insurers for a ZIP code in Iowa. Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) is sold alongside Original Medicare to help with cost-sharing. The letter plans (A, B, G, N, and so on) are standardized, which means the benefits for a given letter are the same from one insurer to the next, but prices and underwriting rules differ. Medicare.gov and the insurer's own materials are the places to compare.
What national Medicare numbers are confirmed for 2027?
Three national figures are set for 2027. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (it is $2,100 in 2026). The maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700. The Part D base beneficiary premium — a national figure used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty, not what any one plan charges — is $41.33. Separately, the Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefits payable beginning January 2027. The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced; CMS typically publishes them in the fall, usually November.
What should Iowans do before December 7, 2026?
A short checklist for Iowa Medicare members:
- Open the Annual Notice of Change from the current plan when it arrives in September 2026 and look for anything different for 2027.
- If a non-renewal letter arrives, remember the Special Enrollment Period runs through February 28, 2027.
- Make a current list of prescriptions, pharmacies, and doctors before comparing plans.
- Compare 2027 options on the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Decide by December 7, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
Where can Iowans get free help with Medicare choices for 2027?
Medicare.gov hosts the official Plan Finder, which shows the Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap options available at an Iowa ZIP code. The 1-800-MEDICARE line (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) is staffed around the clock and can walk through enrollment questions in plain language. Both are free.
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.
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 Period (Open Enrollment)Anyone 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.
Prescription coverage
How Medicare Part D works in 2026
The old coverage gap (“donut hole”) is eliminated as of 2025 (three phases now). There’s now a hard yearly cap of $2,100 on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs, and you can spread those costs across the year with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
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
When does Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 start and end?
What happens if my Iowa Medicare Advantage plan is one of the 18 not returning in 2027?
How much will Part B cost in 2027?
Where can I compare the actual plans available in my Iowa county?
- CMS — MA Landscape Source Files, current and coming plan year (year-over-year comparison)
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
- CMS — Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) rules (medicare.gov)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Sources and methodology
- Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (Part B premium)
- CMS, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) program rules
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan-year announcements
- Medicare.gov, enrollment periods and plan rules
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Source Files
- Medicare.gov Medigap policy search
Figures cited in this article
- CMS — Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files (2026 and 2027): statewide plan counts, plans leaving, new plans, changing plans, carrier entries and exits, and the county-level change figures.
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov): the 2027 out-of-pocket cap, the maximum Part D deductible, the base beneficiary premium, and the 2027 stand-alone Part D plan count for Iowa.
- CMS — Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) rules (medicare.gov): the count of Medigap insurers listed for an Iowa ZIP code.
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov): the Annual Enrollment Period dates and the Special Enrollment Period for non-renewed plans.
- Social Security Administration: the 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment announced October 14, 2026 for benefits payable beginning January 2027.
How we put this together: area counts come from the CMS files listed above for the county that contains this city, program figures come from CMS, Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration, and no plan is ranked or recommended.
By The Medicare Desk · Published . For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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This page was last updated: October 2026.