Medicare Part D

Joliet Medicare AEP: Choosing 2027 Coverage

JOLIET, Ill. — The clock is ticking on Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period. Between now and December 7, people with Medicare in Joliet can review their coverage for 2027, switch plans, or make changes that will shape their costs and care all next year. After that date, most people are locked in until the next window opens.

Here's what's worth knowing before the deadline — and what's actually new for 2027.

What the Annual Enrollment Period lets you do

From October 15 through December 7, you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

Any change you make now takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, your current plan generally renews automatically — but that doesn't mean it will look the same next year. Premiums, drug formularies, provider networks, and out-of-pocket costs can all change from one year to the next.

That's why the yearly "Annual Notice of Change" (ANOC) your plan mailed in September matters. It spells out what's different for 2027.

What's actually new for 2027

A few program-level changes are worth putting on your radar:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your prescription drug costs hit that ceiling, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible. The maximum is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Plans can set a lower deductible, but not higher.
• The old "donut hole" is gone. As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy counter. You can opt in through your Part D plan.
• IRMAA (higher-income surcharges) begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026. Most people don't hit it, but if your income jumped recently, check.

How to decide if your current plan still fits

You don't need to switch just because it's AEP. But you do need to check. A short checklist:

1. Pull out your ANOC. Look at what changes January 1 — premium, deductible, copays, and the drug list. 2. List your current medications. Confirm each one is still covered and note the tier. 3. List your doctors and preferred hospitals. If you're on Medicare Advantage, make sure they're still in-network for 2027. 4. Think about the year you actually had. Did you hit surprise costs? Skip care because of them? That's a signal to look harder. 5. Compare on medicare.gov's Plan Finder. It's the official tool, and it will show every plan available at your ZIP code.

Joliet is in Will County — here's how availability works

Medicare plan choices are set at the county level, not the city level. Joliet sits in Will County, so when you shop on medicare.gov, the tool pulls the plans approved for your county. Neighbors a few miles away in a different county may see a different list.

Will County residents typically have a wide range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options to compare. The exact count changes every year as carriers enter, leave, or adjust plans, so the Plan Finder is the source of truth.

What Star Ratings are (and aren't)

You'll see plans labeled with a Star Rating from 1 to 5. CMS uses those ratings to measure things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions. They're a useful data point — but they're not a substitute for checking whether your drugs and your doctors are covered. A high-rated plan that doesn't cover your medication isn't the right plan for you.

If you miss December 7

Most people can't make another Part D or Medicare Advantage change until the next AEP. Two exceptions:

• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31): If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or drop back to Original Medicare (with a Part D plan).
• Special Enrollment Periods: Life events like moving out of your plan's service area, losing employer coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help can open a personal enrollment window.