Medicare Advantage

Medicare Scams in Missoula: How to Spot and Stop Them

Medicare Scams in Missoula: How to Spot and Stop Them — plain-language Medicare information for Missoula, Montana.

MISSOULA, Mont. — If you're sorting through Medicare choices for 2027, the good news is you have options in western Montana. Missoula is in Missoula County, where 16 Medicare Advantage plans were available for 2026, according to CMS Plan Finder data. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. The tricky part isn't the number — it's knowing what to do, and in what order, before you commit.

This guide walks through the practical steps: what to check first, who to call, and how to avoid the most common mistakes before the Dec. 7 deadline.

Step 1: Know what you already have

Before comparing anything new, pull out your current Medicare card and any plan materials. If you're already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap policy, your carrier mails an Annual Notice of Change each September. Read it. It spells out what's changing for 2027 — your premium, your drug list, your provider network, and your out-of-pocket maximum.

If your plan still fits, you don't have to do anything. If something important changed, that's your cue to compare.

Step 2: Make a short list of what matters to you

Write down:

• The doctors and clinics you want to keep (Providence, Community Medical Center, Partnership Health Center, your specialists).
• Every prescription you take, with the dose and how often.
• Your preferred pharmacy in Missoula.
• Whether you travel out of state and need coverage that travels with you.

This list is what makes Plan Finder actually useful. Without it, you're guessing.

Step 3: Check what's available in Missoula County

Availability is set at the county level. For 2026, Missoula County residents could choose from 16 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 2 carriers that included drug coverage. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Separately, Montana has 11 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide — so if you stick with Original Medicare and want drug coverage, you can look at the full stand-alone Part D list on medicare.gov, which draws from that statewide pool.

You can also stay with Original Medicare and add a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy. That's a separate market with its own rules in Montana.

Step 4: Use Plan Finder — carefully

Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare. Log in with your Medicare account so it pulls your drug list automatically. Enter your Missoula ZIP code. The tool will show you every plan available in the county, sorted the way you choose (total estimated cost is usually more useful than premium alone).

Two cautions:

• Star Ratings are one signal, not a verdict. They measure things like customer service and preventive care across a whole contract, not whether a plan fits your situation.
• Estimated annual cost assumes your drug list and usage stay the same. If you're starting a new medication, redo the estimate.

Step 5: Call for a second opinion before you enroll

This is the step most people skip. Before you click "enroll," call one of these free, unbiased resources:

• SHIP-MT (Montana's State Health Insurance Assistance Program): trained counselors who don't sell insurance. Call the Missoula Aging Services office or the statewide SHIP line to book a session.
• 1-800-MEDICARE: available 24/7 for enrollment questions.
• medicare.gov: for plan details and to enroll directly.

If a private agent contacts you, remember: they can only talk about plans they're licensed to sell. That's fine, but it's not the whole picture.

Step 6: Watch the calendar

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Annual Enrollment Period. Changes take effect Jan. 1.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're in an Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
• Anytime: If you qualify for Extra Help or a Special Enrollment Period (a move, loss of other coverage), different rules apply.

If you're new to Medicare, your Initial Enrollment Period is built around your 65th birthday — it doesn't follow the fall calendar.

A quick note on 2027 program changes

Two Part D updates matter for planning:

• Out-of-pocket drug spending is capped at $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027) for the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional, and you have to opt in.

Higher-income enrollees (above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026) will also pay IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D.