Stunning Medicare News.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, (AEP) is when all Medicare Beneficiaries can join, switch or drop plans. It began on October 1st with plan availability for 2027 announced and enrollments able to be submitted on October 15th for January 1st 2027 effective dates. AEP ends on December 7th. We learned on October 1st that there would be no Medicare Advantage plans in Carroll and Coos counties for 2027. 

In a surprising and unprecedented announcement on Friday October 16th, Governor Kelly Ayotte issued a press release stating that New Hampshire Medicare beneficiaries in Coos and Carroll Counties will indeed have Medicare Advantage plan availability for 2027. On October 21st confirmation came out that a company called Devoted who had filed plans in Grafton, Sullivan and Hillsborough counties already, has added Carroll and Coos counties for 2027 but enrollments will not be available till November 1st. This is one month after AEP has begun. It will shorten the time people have to enroll and I have not heard of any extension or special enrollment periods. This causes a lot of disruption and confusion like last year, but it does give Medicare Advantage options to the 2 counties. Why now and not through the normal time frame or even why not last year? You can speculate, but for whatever the reason my hat is off to Governor Ayotte, President Trump and Dr Oz. They got it done.

The question that looms is about networks. These are good plans, from what seems a good company and they are PPOs so you can go out of network. Usually out of network could be at a higher cost but with the Devoted plans most are the same in and out of network. Most.

Medicare Annual Notice of Change Letters and in some cases Involuntary Disenrollment Letters should be in the mail by now and most who are affected have received them already. People who got disenrollment letters that their Medicare Part D Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan is ending as of 12/31/26 will have a Special Enrollment Period, (SEP) till 12/31/26, well beyond the regular December 7th end of AEP, to sign up for 1/1/2027. They can also enroll in January or February but plans won’t be effective till the 1st of the following month creating a gap in coverage. The letters state that they would get special enrollment rights and options and that it is important to keep the letter. Please keep this letter. Last year in Carroll County many people did not save it and when they needed it to enroll, they had to get a copy from their carrier and it was a big problem getting them. 

Part D will have no more $0.00 premium drug plans next year. All will have premium increases. The lowest monthly premium will be $5.30 and the highest will have a $175.80 monthly premium. 

When you call an agent or other company for help please be prepared with an accurate drug list (the bottles are the best), your red white and blue Medicare card, your insurance company member cards, any letters or other pertinent information, a pen and paper and patience. The enrollment period is shorter and people all want it done now but there is time to get everyone taken care. Of.

Ed Hollum Local Insurance Broker  

edhollum@gmail.com or 603-986-6137 

I am at my  Walgreens Kiosk on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 to 1 through 12/3/26 with a black out for Thanksgiving week.

I also am at the Pope Memorial Library In North Conway on Wednesdays year round.