Medicare Advantage

How Beloit's Medicare plan choices compare with neighboring counties in 2027

If you live in Beloit and you've ever wondered whether people just across the state line or one county over are looking at the same Medicare picture you are, the short answer is: not always. Plan availability is set county by county, and the counts can shift as you move around the metro. Here is a plain-English look at what was on the shelf in Beloit's home county for 2026, and how to think about the areas around it as you weigh 2027 coverage.

Medicare AdvantageBeloit, WI

Why Beloit's numbers are really Rock County's numbers

Medicare Advantage and Part D availability is decided by CMS at the county level. Beloit is in Rock County, so when you shop on Medicare.gov using a Beloit ZIP code, you're really seeing the Rock County lineup.

For 2026, Rock County had 41 Medicare Advantage plans available, offered by 7 carriers that provide MA-PD (Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage). About 29,268 people age 65 and older live in the county, which gives you a sense of the market these plans are built for. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

How a "metro snapshot" actually works

Beloit sits right on the Wisconsin–Illinois line, and many readers here have family, doctors, or second homes in nearby counties. It's tempting to assume the plan choices are similar across the region — but that isn't how Medicare Advantage is drawn up.

Two things to keep in mind when you compare areas:

• County lines matter more than city lines. A plan offered in Rock County may not be offered one county over, and vice versa. If you move — even a short distance — your options can change.
• Networks are separate from availability. Even when the same carrier sells plans in two counties, the doctor and hospital networks can look different. Always check the plan's provider directory for your actual providers.

Stand-alone Part D in the Beloit area

One number that surprised some readers: for 2026, the Landscape showed 0 stand-alone Part D plans listed for the area in the data we're working from. Stand-alone Part D is the drug-only coverage people typically pair with Original Medicare or a Medigap policy. Check Medicare.gov's Plan Finder for the 2027 list.

If that count looks off for your situation, it's worth double-checking directly on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder using your ZIP code and your medication list, because the tool will pull the current, official list for your address.

What Star Ratings are (and aren't)

CMS gives Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts a Star Rating from 1 to 5, based on things like customer service, member experience, and how well the plan manages chronic conditions. In the Rock County area data, 0 contracts were rated 4 stars or higher for 2026.

Stars are one signal among many. They aren't a substitute for checking whether your doctors are in network, whether your prescriptions are covered, and what a plan's total costs look like for someone with your health needs.

Program rules that apply no matter which county you're in

A few program-level facts are the same in Beloit, in the counties around it, and everywhere else in the country:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can set theirs lower).
• Coverage gap: eliminated as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: optional. It lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly bills instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• Enrollment windows: Annual Enrollment Period is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is Jan. 1 – March 31.

How to compare your own options

If you want to see how Beloit's choices really stack up against, say, a neighbor's in a different county:

1. Go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare and enter each ZIP code separately. 2. Add your prescriptions and your preferred pharmacy. 3. Look at total estimated yearly cost, not just the monthly premium. 4. Confirm your doctors and hospitals appear in the plan's network. 5. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (24/7) or your local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free, unbiased help. In Wisconsin, SHIP is offered through the Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care.