Medicare open enrollment ends December 7. What rural retirees should check this year
Medicare’s annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7. Any change you make takes effect on January 1. If you do nothing, most plans simply renew, which is fine when your plan still fits and a costly mistake when it does not.
This year has more change than usual, and some of it falls hardest on people who live far from a city.
What is changing for 2027
The yearly cap on out-of-pocket spending for drugs covered under Part D rises to $2,400, up from $2,100 this year. The maximum Part D deductible rises to $700, up from $615.
Negotiated prices for 15 more drugs take effect on January 1. The list includes the diabetes and weight-loss medications Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. Whether that lowers what you pay depends on your plan.
Medicare advocates have also flagged more disruption than usual in Medicare Advantage. Some plans are leaving certain counties entirely, and some are cutting extra benefits such as dental coverage or raising what members pay when they use care.
Why it matters more in rural areas
Medicare Advantage plans usually rely on networks of doctors and hospitals. In a city, if one hospital leaves a network, there is often another nearby. In a rural county, the plan’s network may include only one hospital, or the nearest in-network specialist may be hours away.
When a plan withdraws from a county, members get a notice and a chance to choose new coverage. But people who miss the notice can end up scrambling in January.
A checklist for this month
- Read your Annual Notice of Change. Plans mail it each fall. It lists changes to premiums, deductibles, covered drugs and networks for next year.
- Check your doctors and hospital. Call the offices you use and ask whether they will be in your plan’s network for 2027. Do not rely only on an online directory.
- Check every prescription. Make sure each drug is still covered, at what tier, and whether your usual pharmacy, including a local independent pharmacy, is preferred or in network.
- Compare at least a few options. The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov lets you enter your drugs and pharmacy and compare estimated yearly costs, not just premiums.
- Look beyond the premium. A plan with a $0 premium can cost more over a year if its deductibles, copays or drug costs are higher.
- Think about travel. If you spend part of the year somewhere else, or see specialists in another state, check how each plan handles care outside its service area.
Where to get free help
Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP, that offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Counselors do not sell plans, and many will meet in person at a senior center or library. You can find your state’s program at shiphelp.org.
You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE, which is 1-800-633-4227, at any hour.
Be careful with unsolicited calls. Medicare does not call people to sell plans, and you should never give your Medicare number to someone who calls you out of the blue.
If you miss the deadline
People already in a Medicare Advantage plan get a second chance. From January 1 through March 31, they can switch to a different Advantage plan or move to Original Medicare once. Certain life events, such as moving or losing other coverage, can also open a special enrollment period.
For most people, though, December 7 is the date that matters. An hour spent checking now can save a lot of money and frustration next year.
