Medicare Advantage

Medicare Deadlines in Henderson: Mark Dec. 7, 2027

For 2027, Henderson is looking at 72 Medicare Advantage plans: 9 new, 11 gone since 2026, and 33 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 15 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Clark County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

HENDERSON, Nev. — If you live in Henderson and rely on Medicare, the most important thing on your fall calendar isn't a plan name. It's a date: December 7. That's when the Annual Enrollment Period closes, and it's the window most Clark County residents use to lock in their 2027 coverage.

Henderson is in Clark County, where 57 Medicare Advantage plans and 10 carriers offering MA-PD coverage are available for 2027, according to CMS Medicare Plan Finder data. With that many choices on the table, knowing exactly when you can act — and what happens if you don't — matters more than any single plan detail.

The one deadline every Henderson reader should know

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) — October 15 to December 7 — is Medicare's main once-a-year window. During AEP you can:

• Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan.
• Move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

Whatever you choose during AEP takes effect January 1, 2027. If December 7 comes and goes without action, your current coverage generally rolls into next year — even if your plan's costs, drug list, or provider network has changed. That's why reviewing your Annual Notice of Change (mailed each September) matters, even when you're happy with your plan.

The second chance most people forget: Jan. 1 – March 31

If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one more window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, 2027. In that window, you can:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
• Drop your Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare, and add a stand-alone Part D plan if needed.

A few important limits: this window is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan. If you're on Original Medicare on January 1, you cannot use it to join an Advantage plan. And you only get one change during this period — not unlimited swaps.

What if you're just turning 65 in Henderson?

Your first enrollment isn't tied to AEP at all. Your Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month window: the three months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the three months after. Signing up during those first three months usually means coverage starts the month you turn 65.

With more than 370,000 residents age 65 and older in Clark County, thousands of neighbors go through this every year. If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period and don't have other qualifying coverage, you could face late enrollment penalties on Part B and Part D that stick with you for as long as you have Medicare.

Special Enrollment Periods: the safety net

Life doesn't always line up with the calendar. Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) let you make changes outside the usual windows when certain things happen — for example:

• You move out of your plan's service area (including a move into or out of Clark County).
• You lose employer or union coverage.
• You qualify for Extra Help or Medicaid.
• Your plan leaves the Medicare program.

SEPs have specific timelines, usually 60 days from the qualifying event. If you think one might apply to you, call 1-800-MEDICARE before you act — you don't want to miss the window on the window.

A few 2027 program facts worth knowing

These apply nationwide, not to any one plan:

• Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 for 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly amounts, if you opt in.
• IRMAA income surcharges for higher earners begin above $109,000 for single filers in 2026.

How to compare your 57 options without getting overwhelmed

With 57 Medicare Advantage plans and 10 MA-PD carriers active in Clark County for 2027, comparison shopping is real work. A few tips:

• Start at medicare.gov/plan-compare and enter your ZIP code and your medications.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (24/7) for help navigating the site.
• Contact Nevada SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free, unbiased one-on-one counseling.

Star Ratings, published by CMS each fall, can help you gauge plan quality — but they're one input, not a verdict.