Medicare Part D
Denver Medicare Checklist: What to Do Before Dec. 7
DENVER — With Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period underway through December 7, Denver-area beneficiaries have a limited window to review their coverage for 2027 — and the prescription drug changes that reshaped Part D continue to evolve.
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Part D plans rewrite their drug lists every year — tiers move, pharmacies change, drugs drop off. One call checks your exact medications against the 2027 plans in your area.
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Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, and any changes made take effect January 1, 2027.
- If you're happy with your current plan and it's still offered next year, you don't need to do anything since it will typically roll over.
- Denver County beneficiaries generally have a wide selection of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, but you should use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to see exact options at your address.
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and it applies across all Part D plans, so it's worth checking your Annual Notice of Change, prescription list, and provider networks before deciding.
Whether you're on Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan or enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, the choices you make (or don't make) between now and December 7 will shape your coverage starting January 1, 2027.
Here's a plain-language guide to what you can actually do during this window.
What the Annual Enrollment Period is for
The Annual Enrollment Period, often called AEP, runs from October 15 through December 7 every year. During this window, according to Medicare.gov, you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
Any change you make during AEP takes effect January 1, 2027. If you're happy with your current coverage and it's still being offered next year, you don't have to do anything — your plan will typically roll over.
Why 2027 is worth a closer look
A few program-wide changes make this year's review more meaningful than usual:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that annual limit, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible: The maximum allowable Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Plans can charge less, but not more.
- The "donut hole" is gone. As of 2025, the old coverage gap phase was eliminated. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is still available. It's an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It doesn't lower your total cost — it just smooths it out.
- IRMAA (higher-income surcharges) for Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026 (based on your 2024 tax return).
What's available in the Denver area
Plan availability in Medicare is set at the county level, not the city level. Denver is in Denver County, Colorado, and beneficiaries there generally have a wide selection of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans to choose from — Colorado's urban Front Range counties consistently offer dozens of options each year.
For the exact count and lineup of plans available at your address for 2026, use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Plan availability, provider networks, and drug formularies can change from year to year — even if your plan name stays the same.
A simple checklist before December 7
You don't have to become a Medicare expert overnight. Focus on these steps:
1. Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your current plan mailed this in September. It spells out what's changing for 2027 — premium, copays, drug tier changes, network changes. 2. Make a current list of your prescriptions, including dosages. Drug coverage is the single biggest reason people find their plan no longer fits. 3. Check that your doctors and preferred hospitals are still in-network for any Medicare Advantage plan you're considering. Denver-area networks can shift. 4. Look at total cost, not just premium. A low premium can pair with higher copays, and vice versa. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and it applies across all Part D plans — so what varies is how you get there. 5. Ask for help if you want a human. Colorado's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling.
What if you miss December 7?
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get a second, narrower window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31. During that time, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop it and return to Original Medicare (and pick up a Part D plan). You can't use this window to switch from Original Medicare into Medicare Advantage.
Outside of these windows, you'd generally need a Special Enrollment Period — for example, if you move out of your plan's service area or lose other coverage.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Denver County
(MA penetration in Denver County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Prescription coverage
How Medicare Part D works in 2027
The old coverage gap (“donut hole”) was eliminated as of 2025 (three phases now). The yearly cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and you can spread those costs across the year with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
I like my plan. Do I have to do anything?
Can I change my Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan during AEP?
What is IRMAA and will it affect me?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.