Medicare Part D

Medicare in Covington, KY: 2027 Plan Options

COVINGTON, Ky. — If you're turning 65 or already on Medicare here in Covington, you have a lot of choices to weigh for 2027. Covington sits in Kenton County, where 65 Medicare Advantage plans were available for the 2026 plan year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

Covington seniors have plenty to sort through this fall

With more than 26,900 residents aged 65 or older in the county, that's a big pool of neighbors making the same decisions you are. The good news: you don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to pick the "perfect" plan on the first try — Medicare gives you set windows each year to review and switch.

The plan counts for Kenton County (2026, with 2027 in each ANOC)

Here's what the CMS Landscape data shows for the area that includes Covington:

• Medicare Advantage plans available in Kenton County: 65
• Carriers offering Medicare Advantage with drug coverage (MA-PD): 7
• Stand-alone Part D drug plans available in the region: These are offered at the regional level, and Kentucky has its own set to choose from through Medicare's Plan Finder.
• Contracts in the area rated 4 stars or higher: 0 for the 2026 plan year

A quick note on star ratings: CMS scores Medicare plan contracts on a 1-to-5 scale based on things like customer service and care quality. Ratings can shift year to year, and they're just one factor to consider — not a recommendation.

What's changing in Medicare for 2027

Even if you like your current coverage, it's worth understanding a few program-wide updates that apply to everyone on Medicare drug coverage:

• A Part D out-of-pocket cap. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that limit in a given year, you pay nothing more for covered prescriptions the rest of that year.
• Part D deductible maximum. 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. Since 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 at the pharmacy counter. You can opt in through your drug plan.
• IRMAA thresholds. Higher-income beneficiaries pay extra for Parts B and D. In 2026, the surcharges kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer (higher for joint filers).

Key dates to circle

Two enrollment windows matter most:

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when anyone with Medicare can join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan and want to change to a different MA plan or drop back to Original Medicare, this is your second chance.

Missing these windows usually means waiting a full year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, if you move or lose other coverage).

How to compare 65 plans without losing your mind

Sixty-five is a lot. A few practical steps can help narrow things down:

1. Make a list of your prescriptions, including dosages. Drug coverage varies plan to plan. 2. Write down your doctors and preferred hospitals. Networks differ. 3. Think about how you like to get care — in person, by telehealth, or both. 4. Use Medicare's official Plan Finder at medicare.gov to filter plans by your ZIP code and drug list. It's the same data all licensed agents use. 5. Talk to a neutral counselor before you enroll (see below).