Medicare Part D
Medicare Guidance in Grand Island: SHIP and Local Agents
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Medicare choices can feel heavy, especially when the mailbox fills up with glossy flyers each fall. The good news: people here don't have to sort it out alone. Grand Island has free, unbiased help through Nebraska's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), plus licensed local agents who can walk you through your options.
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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
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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 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Hall County has about 9,789 residents age 65 and older, and several Part D rules are changing again in 2027.
- Nebraska SHIIP offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling and can be reached at 1-800-234-7119 or through doi.nebraska.gov.
- Licensed agents can help with enrollment paperwork, but they only offer plans from the insurance companies they are contracted with.
- Under CMS's 2026 Star Ratings, 3 of the Medicare Advantage contracts offering plans in Hall County are rated 4 stars or higher, so Star Ratings should be just one factor in your decision.
Grand Island seniors have free places to turn for Medicare answers
With about 9,789 residents age 65 and older in Hall County, and a steady stream of new Medicare enrollees each month, knowing where to get honest guidance matters — especially heading into 2027, when Part D rules continue to shift.
Start with SHIP for free, one-on-one counseling
Nebraska's SHIP is called Nebraska SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program), run through the Nebraska Department of Insurance. SHIIP counselors are trained volunteers and staff who do not sell insurance and do not earn commissions. That's the key difference — their only job is to explain your choices.
SHIIP can help you:
- Understand the difference between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D.
- Compare drug plans on Medicare's Plan Finder using your actual prescriptions.
- Review Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, and Medicaid eligibility.
- Sort through mail, phone calls, and possible scams.
How to reach Nebraska SHIIP: Call 1-800-234-7119 or visit doi.nebraska.gov and search "SHIIP." Ask about appointments in the Grand Island area — counseling is often available through local senior centers and Area Agencies on Aging.
What licensed agents can (and can't) do
Licensed insurance agents can also be a helpful resource, especially if you want someone who will handle the enrollment paperwork and stay with you year to year. Agents are paid by the insurance companies whose plans they sell, so their lineup is limited to the carriers they're contracted with.
A few tips when working with an agent in Grand Island:
- Ask which carriers they represent. Some are "captive" to one company; others are independent brokers who work with several.
- Confirm they are licensed in Nebraska. You can verify a license through the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
- You should never be pressured. If a call feels pushy, hang up.
- Bring a full list of your medications, doctors, and preferred pharmacies to any meeting.
Both SHIIP and a licensed agent are legitimate paths. Many people use SHIIP for a neutral overview, then decide whether to enroll on their own at medicare.gov or through an agent.
Area availability: what Hall County looks like
Grand Island is in Hall County, where Medicare beneficiaries have a wide field of choices. According to CMS Landscape data for the area:
- 33 Medicare Advantage plans are available in Hall County.
- 7 carriers offer Medicare Advantage with prescription coverage (MA-PD) in the area.
- Nebraska has 11 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide — and locally many people also get Part D bundled inside a Medicare Advantage plan. (Stand-alone Part D remains available statewide; confirm on medicare.gov using your ZIP code for 2027.)
Star Ratings are CMS's 1-to-5 quality measure. Ratings can shift each year, so treat them as one piece of information — not the whole picture.
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 Hall County
(MA penetration in Hall 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.
Part D changes to know for 2027
Whether you use SHIIP or an agent, come prepared with the latest numbers in mind:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing more for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
- Maximum Part D deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Individual plans may set a lower one.
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly bills instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to opt into.
- IRMAA (the higher-income surcharge on Part B and Part D) starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
Mark these enrollment windows
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for 2027 coverage.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan. 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (with a Part D plan).
- Initial Enrollment Period: the 7-month window around your 65th birthday.
- Special Enrollment Periods may apply if you move, lose other coverage, or qualify for Extra Help.
Higher-income surcharges
IRMAA income brackets
If your income is above a threshold, you pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on top of your Part B and Part D premiums. The 2027 IRMAA brackets and the 2027 Part B premium and deductible are typically announced by CMS in the fall, usually November. Your 2027 surcharge will be based on your 2025 tax return.
| Income — single filer | Income — married, joint | Part B monthly premium | Part D surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | Plan premium only |
| $109,001 – $137,000 | $218,001 – $274,000 | $284.10 | + $14.50 |
| $137,001 – $171,000 | $274,001 – $342,000 | $405.80 | + $37.40 |
| $171,001 – $205,000 | $342,001 – $410,000 | $527.50 | + $60.40 |
| $205,001 – $500,000 | $410,001 – $750,000 | $649.30 | + $83.30 |
| Above $500,000 | Above $750,000 | $689.90 | + $91.00 |
Standard Part B premium is $202.90/month. Part D surcharges are added to your drug plan’s premium. Married-filing-separately uses a different, compressed schedule. Confirm current amounts at Medicare.gov.
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
Does SHIIP cost anything?
If I already have a Medicare plan, should I still review it every year?
Can an agent help me apply for Extra Help or Medicaid?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.