Key Medicare Advantage Changes

posted on Monday, November 2, 2026 in Public Notices

Medicare Open Enrollment is underway and there are significant Medicare Advantage changes impacting Iowa patients for 2027. 

Key Medicare Advantage Changes:

• Wellmark is ending all Medicare Advantage (replacement) plans in Iowa and South Dakota effective January 1, 2027. Current members will need to select new coverage for 2027.
• UnitedHealthcare and Humana have indicated that some Medicare Advantage plans will be discontinued for 2027. According to both companies, affected members will receive notification by mail and will have opportunities to select alternative plans.

Medicare Open Enrollment:

• Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 each year.
• During this period, beneficiaries can review and change their Medicare Advantage and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year.

Patient Guidance:

• Review any notices received from their insurance company.
• Carefully compare available Medicare plan options.
• Confirm that their physicians, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare providers are in-network with any plan they are considering.
• Verify that their medications are covered under the plan's formulary.
• Understand that selecting an out-of-network plan could result in significantly higher out-of-pocket costs.

Helpful Resources:

• Iowa SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) has resources available to assist beneficiaries with evaluating coverage options. The website below does a great job of highlighting the changes and includes specific plans that are impacted. 
• What's New in Medicare