Medicare Supplement
Cranston Medicare 2026: 23 Plan Options in Providence County
CRANSTON, R.I. — If you're turning 65 soon, helping a parent sort through the mail, or just rethinking your coverage for 2026, you have real choices this year. Cranston is in Providence County, where 23 Medicare Advantage plans are available for 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Landscape files.
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Key takeaways
- Providence County, which includes Cranston, has 23 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2026, based on CMS Landscape files.
- Medicare plan availability is decided by county, not by city, so all Providence County residents see the same plan list.
- For 2026, none of the Medicare Advantage contracts serving Providence County currently have a 4-star or higher overall CMS quality rating, though ratings can change each year.
- To choose a plan, check that your doctors and prescriptions are covered, compare total costs beyond the monthly premium, and use the official Medicare.gov Plan Finder tool.
That's a lot to sift through. Here's a plain-language guide to what those numbers mean — and how to make a confident decision without getting overwhelmed.
What's actually on the table in Providence County
Availability for Medicare plans is set at the county level, not the city level. So while we talk about "Cranston," the plan counts apply across Providence County.
For 2026, in Providence County:
- 23 Medicare Advantage plans are available (most include drug coverage).
- 4 carriers offer Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD).
- Rhode Island has 11 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide, and residents of Providence County can join any of them. If you stay with Original Medicare and want drug coverage, check medicare.gov's Plan Finder for the most current stand-alone Part D options serving your ZIP code.
With more than 108,000 residents age 65+ in the county, there's a reason carriers pay attention to this market — and why comparing options matters.
The 2026 rules that affect every Medicare shopper
Some of the biggest changes for 2026 are program-wide, not plan-specific. These apply no matter which plan you land on:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits that ceiling in 2026, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D deductible maximum: $615. Plans can charge less, but not more.
- No more "donut hole." The coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your yearly drug costs into predictable monthly payments instead of paying big bills at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA (higher-income surcharges) start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
How to decide when you have 23 choices
Twenty-three plans sounds like a lot — and it is. But you can narrow it down quickly with a short checklist:
1. List your doctors and hospitals. Do you want to keep them? Confirm they're in-network for any plan you're considering. 2. List your prescriptions (name, dose, frequency). A plan's drug formulary matters more than almost any other single factor for many people. 3. Think about how you like to get care. Do you travel often? Prefer a referral-based HMO or a broader PPO? Are you comfortable using an app or telehealth? 4. Check the total cost picture, not just the monthly premium. Deductibles, copays, and the Part D cap all play a role. 5. Use medicare.gov's Plan Finder. It's the official comparison tool. Enter your ZIP, your drugs, and your pharmacies, and it'll show side-by-side estimates.
A quick word on Star Ratings
CMS publishes Star Ratings (1 to 5 stars) each fall to measure plan quality — things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions.
In Providence County for 2026, no contracts serving the area currently carry a 4-star or higher overall rating in the latest CMS data. That doesn't mean plans are "bad" — ratings shift year to year, and a rating is just one input. Use it as one data point alongside your doctors, drugs, and total costs.
Key dates: don't miss these
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. This is when most people compare and switch plans for the coming year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan and it isn't working, you get one chance in this window to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).
Missing these windows usually means waiting a full year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (moving, losing other coverage, etc.).
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 Providence County
(MA penetration in Providence 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.
Higher-income surcharges
2026 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. Your 2026 surcharge is based on your 2024 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.
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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
Q: I live in Cranston. Do I really have 23 choices?
Q: I don't want Medicare Advantage. Can I still get drug coverage?
Q: What's the $2,100 cap I keep hearing about?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.