Medicare Plans in Iowa

Medicare is the federal health program for people 65 and older and for some younger people with disabilities. It comes in parts, and the choices you make when you first enroll follow you for years. We sit down with you, in person or by phone, and go through them in order.

Medicare basics

• Part A covers hospital stays. Most people pay no premium but do pay a deductible and coinsurance.
• Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, durable medical equipment and some home health. It has a monthly premium, a deductible and 20% coinsurance on most services.
• Part C, Medicare Advantage, is a private plan that replaces Original Medicare's Parts A and B and usually includes drug coverage and extras like dental or vision. You still pay the Part B premium, and you use the plan's network.
• Part D is stand-alone prescription drug coverage you pair with Original Medicare.
• Medigap (Medicare Supplement) is private insurance that pays some of what Original Medicare leaves to you: deductibles, coinsurance, and care when you travel outside the U.S. Medigap doesn't cover long-term care, dental, vision, hearing aids or prescriptions.

Which path fits you

Medigap gives you the widest choice of doctors and predictable costs at a higher monthly premium. Medicare Advantage often has a lower or zero premium and built-in extras, in exchange for a network and plan rules. Neither is right for everyone. The honest answer depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, how much you travel, and how you'd rather pay: monthly or as you go.

Key dates

• Initial enrollment: the seven months around your 65th birthday.
• Medicare Annual Enrollment: October 15 to December 7, 2026, for 2027 Advantage and Part D changes (Medicare.gov).
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 to March 31, 2027, one switch allowed if you're already in an Advantage plan (Medicare.gov).

Carriers we work with

Medicare Supplement: Physicians Mutual, Aflac, Mutual of Omaha, Insurance Company of North America (Chubb), Cigna, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, AARP by UnitedHealthcare, Medico, Aetna and Humana. Supplement plans are standardized, so we compare the same plan letter across carriers on price and service.

Medicare Advantage for 2027: Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, MediGold, Devoted Health and Wellcare, including dual eligible and chronic condition special needs plans where they're offered in your county.

Part D drug plans: we don't sell stand-alone drug plans, and we're not paid on them. We'll still help you compare the plans available in Iowa against your prescriptions and point you to the right one.

Schedule a Medicare review