If you help an aging parent manage their care, circle October 15. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from then through December 7, and changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Why this year deserves a closer look:
• Plans are disappearing. Several large insurers are pulling Medicare Advantage plans out of hundreds of counties for 2027. If your parent’s plan is ending, they will need to choose a new one.
• Drug costs are shifting. The maximum Part D deductible rises from $615 to $700, and the yearly out-of-pocket cap on covered prescriptions rises from $2,100 to $2,400.
• Benefits can change quietly. Even if a plan continues, its doctor network, covered drugs, and copays may be different next year.
Three simple steps for families:
- Find the “Annual Notice of Change” letter that came in the mail in September. It lists what is changing.
- List their doctors and medications, then confirm each one is still covered.
- Compare options at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Many people renew without looking, then learn in January that a trusted doctor or prescription is no longer covered.
Who helps your parent review their Medicare plan each year?
If you need a really good Medicare consultant, I have one for you. Her name is Sandy, and she can help you navigate any of these new changes. Just reach out and I’ll connect you.
