Medicare Part D
Covington Medicare Deadline: What to Do Before Dec. 7
COVINGTON, Ky. — The clock is ticking on Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period, which runs through December 7. Choices you make (or skip) in the next few weeks decide how your coverage looks starting January 1, 2027 — and 2027 continues the Part D changes that reshaped the program.
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Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, and any changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
- Plan availability for Medicare Advantage and standalone Part D plans is set at the county level, so everyone in Kenton County sees the same menu of options through the Plan Finder at medicare.gov.
- Before choosing a plan, check your exact drug list, confirm your doctors and hospitals are in-network, verify your pharmacy is preferred, and compare total costs (not just the premium).
- If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, a separate window from January 1 to March 31, 2027 lets you switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or move back to Original Medicare, but this window doesn't let people on Original Medicare switch into Medicare Advantage.
Here's a plain-English look at what you can actually do during this window, what's new for next year, and where to get free, unbiased help in the Covington area.
What the Annual Enrollment Period actually is
From October 15 through December 7, anyone with Medicare can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.
Any change you make during this window takes effect January 1, 2027. After December 7, your options narrow considerably — so this is the season to look, not later.
Source: CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov).
What's new for 2027 — and why it matters
Even if you like your current coverage, the program itself is changing. Worth knowing before you decide to stay put:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug costs reach that amount in the year, you pay nothing more for the rest of the year on covered prescriptions.
- Part D deductible maximum: No Part D plan can charge more than $615 as a deductible in 2026, or $700 in 2027.
- No more "donut hole." As of 2025, the coverage gap is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy counter. You have to opt in.
- IRMAA (higher-income surcharges) begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026. If your income has changed, check whether this affects you.
How many plans are available around Covington
Covington sits in Kenton County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. That means every Covington resident sees the same menu of plans their Kenton County neighbors see. When you use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov, you'll enter your ZIP code and it will pull the Kenton County options — Medicare Advantage plans and standalone Part D plans — along with each plan's costs and drug list.
We're not naming plans here on purpose. What matters is that you compare your drugs, your doctors, and your pharmacy against the specific plan documents.
A simple way to decide
If you're feeling overwhelmed, work through these four questions in order:
1. My drugs. List every prescription, dose, and how often. Run that exact list through the Plan Finder — a small formulary difference can mean a big cost difference. 2. My doctors and hospitals. If you use a Medicare Advantage plan, confirm the providers you want (including anyone across the river in Cincinnati) are in-network for 2027. Networks change every year. 3. My pharmacy. Plans have "preferred" pharmacies where costs are lower. Check whether the pharmacy you already use is preferred, standard, or out-of-network. 4. My total picture. Look at premium + deductible + expected drug and medical costs together — not just the premium.
What Star Ratings are (and aren't)
You'll see CMS Star Ratings (1 to 5 stars) next to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. They reflect things like customer service, member complaints, and how well a plan manages chronic conditions. Ratings are one data point — useful context, but not a substitute for checking whether a plan actually covers your drugs and your doctors.
If you miss December 7
You still have one more window, but it's narrower. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31, 2027. During those three months, if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan). It does not let people on Original Medicare jump into Medicare Advantage.
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 Kenton County
(MA penetration in Kenton 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.
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
Do I have to do anything if I like my current plan?
I'm turning 65 in Covington next spring. Does this deadline apply to me?
Will the new $2,100 drug cap help me?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.