Medicare 2026

Dec. 7 is the Medicare AEP deadline for The Colony

THE COLONY, Texas — Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is open through Sunday, Dec. 7, and it is the yearly window when most people on Medicare can make changes that take effect Jan. 1. If you live in The Colony and you have been putting off looking at your coverage, the next few weeks are the time to sit down with your paperwork.

This year, the review matters a little more than usual. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027, and plans across the country have been adjusting premiums, drug lists, and pharmacy networks. Even if you are happy with what you have, the plan itself may have changed for next year.

What you can actually do between now and Dec. 7

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is broader than many people realize. During this window you can:

• Join a Medicare Advantage plan, switch to a different one, or drop it and go back to Original Medicare.
• Join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, switch plans, or drop your drug coverage.
• Add Part D if you have Original Medicare and don't have drug coverage yet.

Whatever you choose, the effective date is Jan. 1, 2027. You do not need to cancel your old plan separately — enrolling in a new one generally replaces the old coverage automatically.

Read your Annual Notice of Change first

If you are already in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your insurer mailed you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September. It's the document that spells out what is different about your plan for 2027 — premium, deductible, drug tiers, provider network, and extra benefits.

Set it next to a list of the medications you actually take and the doctors you actually see. The three questions worth answering:

1. Are my prescriptions still covered, and at what tier? 2. Are my doctors and preferred pharmacy still in network? 3. Is the plan's total yearly cost (premium plus expected out-of-pocket) still reasonable for me?

If any answer is "no" or "I'm not sure," that's your cue to compare.

What's new for 2027

A few program-level changes worth knowing as you compare:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap. The cap on covered drug costs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that amount, you pay nothing more for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible ceiling. No Part D plan can charge a deductible higher than $615 in 2026 or $700 in 2027.
• No more "donut hole." As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four, and that structure continues in 2027.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly bills instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. You have to opt in.
• IRMAA. Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D. For 2026, it kicks in above $109,000 for a single filer (based on 2024 tax return).

How plan availability works in The Colony

The Colony is in Denton County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. That means two neighbors on the same street will see the same list of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, but a cousin across the county line in Dallas County may see a different list.

The cleanest way to see exactly what is offered where you live is the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code and, if you want personalized results, your list of drugs. You'll see every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan available in Denton County, side by side.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming nothing changed. Plans revise their drug lists and networks every year. Skipping the review is the single most common way people get surprised in January.
• Shopping on premium alone. A low monthly premium can come with a higher deductible or different drug tiers. Look at total expected yearly cost.
• Missing Dec. 7. After that date, your options narrow considerably until the next AEP.
• Confusing AEP with Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. The Jan. 1 – March 31 window is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, and you only get one change during it.

Where to get unbiased help

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to talk to a salesperson to get answers.

• Medicare.gov — the official Plan Finder and program rules.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, free.
• Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) — Texas's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), offering free one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers with no ties to any insurance company. Call 1-800-252-9240.