Medicare Advantage

Anderson Medicare 2027: Madison County Options

Anderson, Ind. — If you're sorting through Medicare choices in Anderson this fall, here's a helpful piece of context: Madison County residents had 71 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2026, according to CMS plan landscape data. The 2027 lineup is spelled out in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. That's a lot of paperwork on the kitchen table, and it's worth understanding what those numbers mean before the Annual Enrollment Period closes on Dec. 7, 2026.

What "71 plans" really means in Anderson

Medicare plan availability is set by CMS at the county level, not the city. Anderson sits in Madison County, where 71 Medicare Advantage plans were on the 2026 landscape from 9 carriers. That count included different plan types — HMOs, PPOs, and special needs plans. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

It's a big menu, but you won't personally qualify for every plan on it. Some are limited to people with certain health conditions, and some are tied to specific provider networks. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov filters the list down to what actually fits your situation, ZIP code, and prescriptions.

Drug coverage: a quieter picture

One number that surprised some Anderson readers: the 2026 landscape showed 0 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans listed at the Madison County level. In practice, most people who want drug coverage in this area get it built into a Medicare Advantage plan (an "MA-PD"). The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

If you have Original Medicare and want stand-alone Part D coverage, don't assume it's unavailable — call 1-800-MEDICARE or your local SHIP office and confirm what's offered in your exact ZIP code. Plan Finder is the official source.

The 2027 rules worth knowing

A few program-wide changes apply no matter which plan you land on:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits the annual cap — $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 — you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible ceiling: No Part D plan can charge a deductible above $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• No more donut hole: As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four — the old coverage gap is gone.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can choose to spread your yearly drug costs into predictable monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to opt in.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay income-related surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums. In 2026, these begin above $109,000 for a single filer.

About Star Ratings

You may notice CMS Star Ratings listed next to plans on Plan Finder. They're a quality measure — a 1-to-5 scale that reflects things like customer service, member complaints, and preventive care. In the 2026 data, no contracts serving the Madison County area were rated 4 stars or higher. Updated ratings appear on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

Star Ratings are one input, not a verdict. Provider network, drug formulary, and total cost usually matter more to your day-to-day experience.

Who this affects locally

Madison County is home to about 24,810 residents age 65 and older, which is why so many carriers compete here. If you're one of them — or you're helping a parent sort through the mail — the key dates to circle are:

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in an MA plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

How to compare without getting overwhelmed

With a wide menu of Medicare Advantage plans on the Madison County landscape, going alphabetically will wear you out. A better approach:

1. Log in at medicare.gov and use Plan Finder with your ZIP code, doctors, and prescription list. 2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (24/7) for help walking through your options. 3. Contact Indiana SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free, unbiased local counseling — SHIP counselors don't sell plans.