What's New in Medicare

Medicare

Every year, the Open Enrollment Period (October 15th to December 7th) allows Medicare beneficiaries the chance to enroll in, disenroll from, or switch Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D (standalone drug) plans.  It is also an important time to make sure your plan will still be offered next year.  There are quite a few Medicare plans that have been cancelled for 2026, which could leave members without coverage:

Cancelled Medicare Advantage & Cost Plans in Iowa 

  • AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IA-0001 HMO-POS (H5253-107-002; H5253-107-003)
  • AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IA-0002 HMO-POS (H5253-108-004)
  • AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IA-0003 PPO (H8768-017-003)
  • AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IA-0004 PPO (H8768-052-001; H8768-052-002)
  • AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC SI-0001 PPO (H1278-007)
  • AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx SI-MA01 PPO (H1278-019)
  • AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx IA-MA01 PPO (H8768-018) – no longer available in certain counties
  • Aetna Medicare Eagle HMO-POS (H1609-058) – no longer available in Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto & Winnebago counties
  • Aetna Medicare Value Plus HMO-POS (H1609-068) – no longer available in Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto & Winnebago counties
  • Aetna Medicare Premier HMO-POS (H1609-001) – no longer available in certain counties
  • AetnaMedicare Premier PPO (H1608-001) – no longer available in certain counties
  • Aetna Medicare SmartFit HMO-POS (H1609-069) – no longer available in certain counties
  • Aetna Medicare Elite PPO (H1608-037) – no longer available in certain counties
  • Central Iowa Health Senior Plan Cost Plan (H1651-011)
  • All Gundersen Quartz HMO plans – no longer offered in Clayton & Howard counties
  • Health Alliance Medicare Guide Rx HMO (H1463-021 or H1737-001)
  • All Medica Cost Plans – no longer offered in Mitchell & Winnebago counties
  • Mercy Cedar Rapids Senior Plan Cost Plan (H5256-005) – no longer offered in Benton, Cedar, Delaware & Jones counties
  • All MercyOne HMO & PPO plans – no longer offered in Cherokee, Ida, Monona, Plymouth, Sioux & Woodbury counties
  • Blue Medicare Advantage HMO (H8095-001)
  • Blue Medicare Advantage Avera PPO (H5900-005)
  • Blue Medicare Advantage Enhanced PPO (H5900-002)
  • Blue Medicare Advantage PPO (H5900-001) – no longer offered in certain counties
  • Wellpoint Dual Advantage D-SNP HMO-POS (H0907-002)

What to know if your Medicare Advantage plan has been cancelled:

If your plan has been cancelled or is no longer available in your county, you can choose a different Medicare Advantage plan that is still available in your county or switch back to Original Medicare with a “guaranteed issue” for a Medicare Supplement. “Guaranteed issue” means that you can select any Medicare Supplement plan that can be sold to you (based on age) and cannot be denied or charged a higher premium based on your health conditions.

Your current coverage will no longer exist as of December 31, 2025, but you have until February 28, 2026, to make any changes.

Anytime you enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan, check to make sure your providers are in-network with the plan. PPO plans allow members to go to out-of-network providers for a higher cost, but the provider/facility also needs to accept the plan. HMO plans will usually only cover out-of-network providers for emergency/urgent services.   

Cancelled Medicare Part D plans in Iowa

  • MedicareBlue Rx Premier

What do know if you are currently enrolled in the MedicareBlue Rx Premier drug plan:

Anyone enrolled in this plan will no longer have drug coverage as of December 31, 2025, but you have until February 28, 2026, to select a new drug plan.

If your drug plan was cancelled and you do not enroll in a new drug plan by February 28th, you may not be able to enroll in drug coverage again until the next Open Enrollment Period (October 15th, 2026), and you may end up with a monthly penalty due to a lapse in coverage.

For more details about Open Enrollment Period, see our webpage at https://shiip.iowa.gov/find-resources/medicare-open-enrollment-period

You can compare Part D & Medicare Advantage plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or by meeting with a SHIIP/SMP Counselor.