Medicare Part D
Helena Medicare 2027: Lewis and Clark County Plan Options
HELENA, Mont. — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, people on Medicare in Helena have a set list of choices to weigh for 2027. Helena is in Lewis and Clark County. For 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) counted 16 Medicare Advantage plans available in the county; the 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, giving people in Lewis and Clark County a set window to review coverage choices for 2027.
- CMS listed 16 Medicare Advantage plans available in Lewis and Clark County for 2026; the 2027 count is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. The number just shows how many options exist, not which one is right for you.
- Montana has 11 stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans for 2026, sold statewide, and the 2027 lineup is on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. People on Original Medicare can still check the national Part D market there.
- For 2026, no Medicare contracts in Lewis and Clark County were rated 4 stars or higher. CMS says Star Ratings should be weighed alongside network and cost details rather than used as a shortcut; 2027 ratings are posted on Medicare.gov.
That number matters. It's the size of the shopping shelf — not a ranking, not a recommendation. Here's what the local landscape looked like for 2026, plus the program-wide rules that apply no matter which county you live in. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.
The Helena-area snapshot (2026 counts)
Lewis and Clark County is home to about 14,843 residents age 65 and older, according to census figures — a sizable share of the community that depends on Medicare decisions each fall.
For 2026, CMS Landscape data showed (2027 counts are on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder):
- 16 Medicare Advantage plans available in the county
- 2 carriers offering Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD)
- 11 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans offered statewide in Montana for 2026
- 1 contract rated 4 stars or higher under CMS's 2026 Star Ratings
Availability is set at the county level, so those figures apply to anyone with a Helena-area ZIP code inside Lewis and Clark County. If you're just over the county line, your options may look different.
What "16 plans" actually means
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is the private-plan alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). When CMS says 16 MA plans are available in Lewis and Clark County, it means 16 distinct plan offerings from participating carriers — different networks, different structures, different drug coverage arrangements.
The count doesn't tell you which plan fits your doctors, your prescriptions, or your budget. Two people living on the same Helena block can look at the same 16 options and reasonably land on different answers.
The stand-alone Part D question
Montana has 11 stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) for 2026, sold statewide, since CMS sets PDPs at the region level rather than county by county. In practice, most people who stay on Original Medicare still have PDP options available through the national Part D market — the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the authoritative tool to see what applies to your ZIP code and situation for 2027.
If you're leaning toward Medicare Advantage instead, drug coverage is often bundled into the MA-PD plans offered by the two carriers active in the county.
Star Ratings, briefly
CMS rates Medicare contracts on a 1-to-5 scale based on things like customer service, member complaints, and clinical measures. Under CMS's 2026 Star Ratings, 1 of the 5 Medicare Advantage contracts offering plans in Lewis and Clark County is rated 4 stars or higher; 2027 ratings are posted on Medicare.gov.
Star Ratings are one input, not a verdict. They're worth reading alongside network, drug formulary, and total expected costs — not used as a shortcut.
Program-wide rules to know for 2027
These apply nationwide, Helena included:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that limit in a given year, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible: up to $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027). Plans can charge less, but not more.
- No more "donut hole." The old coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. You can opt in to spread drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA. Higher-income enrollees pay extra for Part B and Part D. For 2026, surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.
Key dates
- Annual Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026. This is when most people compare, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for 2027.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan. 1 – March 31. If you're already in an MA plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.
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 Lewis and Clark County
(MA penetration in Lewis and Clark 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 pick a new plan every year?
I only see 2 carriers listed for MA-PD. Is that unusual for Montana?
Where can I get one-on-one help without a sales pitch?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.