Medicare Part D
Medicare Advantage do-over period explained for Sioux City
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — If you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during last fall's open enrollment and now the plan doesn't feel right, you have a do-over. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, and it gives people already in a Medicare Advantage plan one more chance to change course before spring.
Compare Medicare options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
Most Medicare Advantage and Medigap options require both.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Will your prescriptions still be covered in 2027?
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.
- Every prescription checked, name by name
- Your pharmacy checked for preferred pricing
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
Want to see more plan options?
Answer a few more questions to continue to additional options from licensed partners.
Continue →Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027, letting people already in a Medicare Advantage plan make one more switch.
- Only those already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1 can use this window, and it's narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period.
- Plan and Part D availability in Woodbury County is set by CMS and can change yearly, so it's worth checking current options at medicare.gov/plan-compare using your ZIP code, prescriptions, and pharmacies.
- Before switching, gather your Evidence of Coverage or Annual Notice of Change, prescription list, doctors and pharmacies, and Medicare number, and you can get free help from Iowa SHIIP or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Sioux City retirees have a second look at Medicare Advantage — until March 31
This window is narrower than the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and it comes with its own rules. Here's what Sioux City readers should know as the calendar turns.
Who can use this window — and who can't
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) is only for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1.
If that's you, you can:
- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare — and if you do, you can also add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.
What you cannot do during MA-OEP:
- Move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time.
- Join or switch a stand-alone Part D drug plan if you're staying on Original Medicare.
- Make more than one change. You get one switch during this window.
Those rules come straight from CMS (medicare.gov).
Why this quarter matters for 2027
A few program-level changes are worth checking against your current coverage:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that number, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible cannot exceed $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can set it lower).
- The old "donut hole" is gone. As of 2025, Part D has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly bills instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to opt into through your drug plan.
- IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026 (higher for joint filers), based on your 2024 tax return.
If any of those changes affect how your current plan feels — say, your drug costs shifted, or a provider left the network — this is the window to act.
Local availability: what to know about the Sioux City area
Sioux City is in Woodbury County, where Medicare plan availability is set at the county level by CMS. The number of Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone Part D plans offered in Woodbury County changes every year, and the specific plans available in Sioux City follow those county boundaries.
The most reliable place to see the current count and compare plans side by side is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare. You enter your ZIP code and, if you want, your prescriptions and preferred pharmacies, and it shows the plans available to you.
How to make a smart switch — without rushing
Before you change plans, gather a few things:
1. Your current plan's Evidence of Coverage or Annual Notice of Change. That's where 2027 benefit changes are spelled out. 2. A list of your prescriptions, with dosages. 3. Your doctors and preferred pharmacies. Networks vary between plans and can change year to year. 4. Your Medicare number.
Then compare on Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or contact Iowa SHIIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free, unbiased one-on-one counseling. SHIIP counselors don't sell anything. You can reach them at 1-800-351-4664.
What Star Ratings actually tell you
You may see plans labeled with a Star Rating from 1 to 5. CMS builds these ratings each year using measures like customer service, member complaints, and how well the plan manages chronic conditions. Higher-rated plans have generally scored better on those measures — but a rating is a snapshot, not a prediction, and the "right" plan for you also depends on your doctors, drugs, and budget.
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 Woodbury County
(MA penetration in Woodbury 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.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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
Can I join Medicare Advantage for the first time between January and March?
If I drop Medicare Advantage and go back to Original Medicare, can I get a Medigap policy?
When does my new plan start?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.