Hey PTIB family! It is that time of year again. Your mailbox is filling up with Medicare letters, the TV ads are back, and you are wondering whether you need to do anything at all. Here is my honest answer: you do not have to change a thing, but you should look. It is important to me to stay on top of the changes as they come, and every year I find clients whose plan quietly stopped fitting.
Why Review Your Plan Every Year?
A Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is a one-year contract. The plan can keep its name and still change its premium, its drug list, the tier your prescriptions sit on, its out-of-pocket maximum and which doctors are in network. Your plan tells you about those changes in the Annual Notice of Change it mails each fall. Most people never read it, and that is where the surprises come from in January.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, 2026, is your window to switch for January 1, 2027, per the CMS 2027 Idaho fact sheet.
What Changed in Idaho for 2027?
| Measure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans available in Idaho | 48 | 44 |
| Average monthly Medicare Advantage premium | $27.81 | $37.93 |
| Standalone Part D plans available | 10 | 8 |
| Idahoans enrolled in Medicare | not shown | 416,679 |
Source: CMS, Medicare Open Enrollment in Idaho, 2027 (published September 28, 2026); the 2026 Part D count is from the CMS 2026 Idaho fact sheet. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Fewer plans and a higher average premium do not mean your plan got worse. They do mean the list you picked from last year is not the list in front of you now. Some plans were folded into others, some changed networks, and the 2027 star ratings are new. That is exactly what the review sorts out.
How Our Annual Review Works
- Watch This First. Start with the short video on our Medicare Resources page. It explains what we will look at, so our time together goes further.
- Click the button to get started. The plan review survey, on the same page, asks about your doctors, prescriptions and what matters most to you. No computer? Call us and we will fill it out together over the phone.
- Sign the Scope of Appointment. Medicare requires a Scope of Appointment before we talk about specific plans. It takes a minute and does not enroll you in anything.
- We meet. By Zoom, by phone, or in person at our Idaho City office by appointment. I break the decision into six comparison areas, check your current plan against the 2027 options, and tell you plainly whether to stay or switch.
If staying put is the right answer, I will tell you that too. People don't realize that I don't charge for my time, and I would rather you keep a plan that fits than switch for the sake of it.
What to Have Ready
- Your Medicare card and your current plan name
- Every prescription, with the dose and how often you take it
- The doctors, clinics and pharmacy you want to keep
- Your Annual Notice of Change letter, if you kept it
That is it. Call or text 208-350-9933 and let's get your review on the calendar well before December 7. I can't wait to work with you!
CarrieAnne
Ready for your 2027 review?
Watch the video, start the survey, then call or text 208-350-9933 and we will set your time before December 7.
Call or text 208-350-9933 Send us a messageFrequently Asked Questions
When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage?
October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes you make in that window start January 1, 2027.
Why review my Medicare plan if I like it?
Because plans change every year even when the name stays the same. For 2027, CMS reports 44 Medicare Advantage plans in Idaho, down from 48 in 2026, and an average Medicare Advantage premium of $37.93, up from $27.81. A review tells you whether your plan still fits your doctors, drugs and budget.
What do I need for my annual review with Personal Touch?
Your Medicare card, your current plan name, every prescription with the dose, the doctors you want to keep, and the Annual Notice of Change letter your plan mailed in the fall if you have it.
Do I have to meet in person?
No. We do annual reviews by Zoom or phone anywhere in Idaho, and in person at our Idaho City office by appointment.
Does the annual review cost anything?
No. There is no charge for our time, and your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own.
Keep Reading
Sources
- CMS, Medicare Open Enrollment in Idaho, 2027 (2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape State-by-State Fact Sheets, September 28, 2026), accessed October 26, 2026
- CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (202610), accessed October 26, 2026
- eCFR, 42 CFR 422.2264(c)(3), Scope of Appointment for personal marketing appointments, accessed October 26, 2026
Figures are labelled with the year they apply to and were checked against the official sources above on the date shown. This page is general education, not individual advice. Personal Touch Ins. & Benefits, LLC is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.