Medicare Advantage

Lawrence metro Medicare plan availability

Lawrence metro Medicare plan availability — plain-language Medicare information for Lawrence, Kansas.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — If you live in Lawrence and are sorting through Medicare choices this fall, it helps to see how the local landscape looks compared with the broader metro. Availability isn't the same everywhere — it's set county by county — and knowing what's on the shelf in your area is a good first step before you compare details with a trusted advisor or on Medicare's own tools.

How plan availability works around the metro

Medicare plan availability is decided at the county level, not the city level. That means two neighbors in different counties can see very different lists. Lawrence is in Douglas County, where 42 Medicare Advantage plans were available for 2026, offered by 8 carriers; the 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Nearby counties in the Kansas City metro and eastern Kansas each have their own counts, which is why a friend across the county line may talk about options you don't see.

If you're new to the area — or thinking about moving — a change of address can open a Special Enrollment Period, giving you a chance to pick a plan that matches your new county.

What the Douglas County numbers tell you

A few things stand out in the local snapshot:

• 42 Medicare Advantage plans, spread across 8 carriers. That's a healthy amount of choice, but more options also means more homework.
• 0 stand-alone Part D plans listed in the area data. In practice, most people getting drug coverage locally do so through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D (an MA-PD), or through Original Medicare with a separate Part D plan sold in the broader state market.
• 0 contracts rated 4 stars or higher appear in this county's data. Star Ratings are a CMS quality measure that can change year to year, and a rating on its own shouldn't be the only thing you look at.
• About 16,722 residents age 65+ live in Douglas County, so plenty of neighbors are working through the same decisions.

These are area-level counts only. They don't tell you which plan fits your doctors, your prescriptions, or your budget — that part is personal.

What's new for 2027 that affects everyone

A few program-wide changes matter no matter which county you live in:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug costs hit that ceiling, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year (the 2026 cap is $2,100).
• Part D maximum deductible of $700 in 2027 (it is $615 in 2026). Plans can charge less, but not more.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments, at no added cost, if that helps with cash flow.
• IRMAA surcharges — the higher-income adjustments to Part B and Part D — begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

How to think through your options

There's no single "right" plan, but a few questions help narrow things down:

1. Do you want Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Original Medicare (Parts A and B) plus a separate drug plan gives you broad provider access nationwide. Medicare Advantage bundles benefits through a private plan, often with a defined network. 2. What prescriptions do you take? Every drug plan uses its own formulary. A drug that's cheap on one plan can be pricier on another. 3. Which doctors and hospitals do you use? Check networks before you enroll, especially if you split time between counties or states. 4. How do you feel about trade-offs? Lower monthly costs sometimes mean higher costs when you use care, and vice versa.

The official Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code and medications to compare side-by-side. Kansas SHICK (the state's SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling if you'd rather talk it through with a person.

Dates worth circling

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment Period. Change your Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage for 2027.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (with a Part D plan).
• Special Enrollment Periods: Triggered by life events like moving, losing employer coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help.