Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15, 2026, to December 7, 2026. Changes made during this time will go into effect on January 1, 2027.

Yes. We encourage you to read the mail you received from your plan. You should have received an Annual Notice of Change — this helpful document lists any changes to costs, covered drugs, provider networks, and more. Keep in mind that provider networks can change from year to year, so it is always a good idea to verify your healthcare providers are still in-network.

It is always a good idea to compare your options during Medicare Open Enrollment each year. If you decide that you do not want to make any changes, and you have verified that your plan is available for 2027, then you do not need to take further action.

Yes. Original Medicare is not ending. However, people with Original Medicare may have a separate Part D prescription drug plan. These drug plans can change or end each year.
For example, the Aetna SilverScript Choice drug plan will end on December 31, 2026. People with this plan should choose new drug coverage for 2027 to avoid a gap in coverage.

If your Medicare plan is ending or you want to explore other options, you can contact a local insurance agent for help comparing plans and enrolling.
You can also compare plans and enroll on your own at Medicare.gov/plan-compare.
Before choosing a plan, check:

• Costs: Review the monthly premium, deductible, and other costs you may pay.
• Drug coverage: Make sure your medicines are covered and check which pharmacies you can use.
• Providers and hospitals: Check that your healthcare providers, including Cass Health, are in the plan's network. Networks vary by plan and can change each year. Cass Health is not in-network with all Medicare Advantage plans, including Humana Medicare Advantage and Devoted Health. These are just two examples, so be sure to check your specific plan before enrolling.
• Other benefits: Check whether the plan offers dental, vision, hearing, or other benefits you may need.
• Plan ratings: Review the plan's Medicare star rating to see how its care and services are rated.
• Other insurance: Check how the plan works with any other coverage you have.

• In-network means Cass Health (or another healthcare provider) has a contract with your insurance plan. You will usually pay less when receiving care from an in-network provider.
• Out-of-network means Cass Health (or another healthcare provider) does not have a contract with your insurance plan. Depending on your plan, you may pay more for care, may need prior approval, or certain services may not be covered. This may mean that you need to use a different in network hospital or provider for non-emergency services.

Your insurance plan determines how much it will pay and what portion of the bill is your responsibility. This may include deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. The amount you owe depends on your plan's benefits, how your claim is processed, and applicable coverage rules.

Some plans cover out-of-network care, while others offer little or no coverage for non-emergency services outside their network.

Original Medicare works differently. You can see any provider or hospital that accepts Medicare.

Cass Health accepts Original Medicare and works with many Medicare Advantage plans, but not all of them. Cass Health has a list of all insurance providers that we are in-network with here. We also encourage you to verify with your selected insurance provider that Cass Health and the other providers you use are in-network before enrolling.

It’s important to know that Cass Health is not in-network with every Medicare Advantage or Marketplace plan. For example, we are not in-network with Humana Medicare Advantage, Devoted Health, and Oscar Marketplace.

Before enrolling, check that Cass Health and your doctors are in the exact plan you want.

You can:

• Contact the insurance plan to confirm that Cass Health and your doctors are in-network.
• View our list of insurance plans at casshealth.org/patients/billing.
• Call Cass Health Patient Financial Services at 712-250-8041.

Keep in mind that networks can change each year.

Both are types of Medicare Advantage plans, but they have different rules.

• HMO plans: You usually need to use doctors and hospitals in the plan's network for care that is not an emergency.
• PPO plans: You may be able to receive care outside the network, but your costs may be higher.

Each plan is different. Check the plan's rules and network before enrolling.

Medicare Advantage plans cover emergency care even when the hospital is outside the plan's network. You may still have a copay or other costs based on your plan. If you have an emergency, it is important to seek care right away at the closest facility.

• Our Patient Financial Services team can help you verify Cass Health’s network participation. If you’re considering a plan, you can contact us to verify the plan’s network status before you enroll.
• Our SHIIP counselors are available to help Medicare patients. They can provide free, confidential and unbiased help comparing Medicare options during open enrollment.

No, we do not recommend one plan over another. Our goal is to make sure patients understand how their plan choice may affect where they can receive care and what they may pay.

In Cass County, local Medicare beneficiaries should be on the lookout for the following:

Cancelled Plans

• Aetna – SilverScript Choice (PDP) (S5601-050)
  (Plan members in Cass: 313)
• Humana – Humana Full Access (PPO) (H5216-411)
  (Plan members in Cass: 14)

Plans No Longer Offered in Cass County

• AARP/UnitedHealthCare
  AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC NE-3 HMO-POS (H2802-001)
  (Plan members in Cass: 86)
• AARP/UnitedHealthCare
  AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC NE-5 HMO-POS (H2802-074)
  (Plan members in Cass: 47)

It's also important to know that beginning January 1, 2027, Cass Health will not be in-network with Wellmark Medicare Advantage Plans or Medica Advantage Plans.

• Loss of Mayo Clinic Network: The Iowa Insurance Division reports that Medicare Advantage plans offered in Iowa will no longer include Mayo Clinic as an in-network provider in 2027. This follows the end of Wellmark and Medica's Medicare Advantage PPO plans. If you receive care at Mayo Clinic, be sure to review your coverage options.
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Rights: If your Medicare Advantage plan is canceled or leaves your county, you may have a special right to buy Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap) when you return to Original Medicare. This is called a "guaranteed issue" right. It means an insurance company cannot deny you a Medigap plan or charge you more because of your health. These rights have time limits. Keep the notice from your plan and ask a SHIIP counselor for help.

• December 7, 2026: Standard Open Enrollment deadline for comparing and selecting 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
• December 31, 2026: Deadline for individuals losing their plan to select new coverage without experiencing a gap in coverage starting January 1, 2027.
• February 28, 2027: Deadline to make changes under a Special Enrollment Period for those whose plans were canceled.

Medicare beneficiaries who fail to enroll in a new plan by December 31, 2026, risk coverage gaps on January 1, 2027, which could lead to substantial unexpected medical and prescription expenses.
Medigap has separate deadlines, so ask your insurance agent or a SHIIP Counselor about those rights if you are thinking about returning to Original Medicare.

Online Self-Service Resources: The SHIIP-SMP website offers answers to frequently asked questions and instructional video guides on creating a Medicare.gov account, using the Medicare Plan Finder tool, and comparing Part D or Medicare Advantage plans.

24/7 National Helpline: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for around-the-clock help comparing plans.

Local 1-on-1 Assistance: In Cass County, call 712-243-7555 to leave a message with a SHIIP counselor, who will return your call and schedule an appointment with you. You can also visit the “Find a Counselor” page at shiip.iowa.gov or call 1-800-351-4664 to connect with a local SHIIP-SMP site. Counselor availability is limited, and appointments fill up quickly.