A lot of my calls in the fall start the same way: "I'm calling about my mom." I love those calls. I've been through this with my own loved ones, and I know how it feels to be the one holding the folder of letters and trying to make sense of them. Here is how I would walk a Boise County family through it for 2027.
Start With Permission
Your parent is the one enrolled, so they need to be part of the decision. In practice that is easy: we set up one Zoom or phone call with both of you on it, even if you live in another state and your parent is home in Garden Valley or Horseshoe Bend. Before we talk about specific plans, Medicare requires a short Scope of Appointment, which your parent signs. It does not enroll anyone in anything.
If you hold a power of attorney for your parent, have a copy ready. If not, that is fine; having your parent on the call is all we need for a review.
First Question: Is Their Plan Ending?
Check this before anything else. Seven Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage that were sold in Boise County in 2026 end for 2027 with no replacement plan, according to the CMS 2027 plan crosswalk. Two of them are Special Needs Plans, which often serve the parents who need the most help.
| Plan ID | 2026 plan | Carrier | 2027 status |
|---|---|---|---|
| H3828-001 | Saint Alphonsus Health Plan Choice (PPO) | Saint Alphonsus Health Plan | Ends, no successor plan |
| H6910-001 | Saint Alphonsus Health Plan No Premium (HMO) | Saint Alphonsus Health Plan | Ends, no successor plan |
| H6910-005 | Saint Alphonsus Health Plan Cash Back (HMO) | Saint Alphonsus Health Plan | Ends, no successor plan |
| H3864-024 | PacificSource Medicare MyCare Choice Rx 24 (HMO-POS) | PacificSource Medicare | Ends, no successor plan |
| H5216-429 | Humana Essentials Plus Giveback H5216-429 (PPO) | Humana | Ends, no successor plan |
| H5628-014 | Molina Medicare Complete Care Select (HMO D-SNP) | Molina Healthcare of Utah & Idaho | Ends, no successor plan |
| H7617-034 | HumanaChoice Diabetes and Heart (PPO C-SNP) | Humana | Ends, no successor plan |
Sources: CMS 2027 Part C and D Plan Crosswalk and CMS CY2026 Landscape file, accessed October 30, 2026. A different HumanaChoice Diabetes and Heart plan (H7617-033) continues in 2027.
Find the plan name and ID on your parent's member card or on the letter the plan mailed this fall. If it is on this list, your parent needs a new plan for January 1, 2027. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026 (CMS 2027 Idaho fact sheet), so do not let it slide into December. Even if the plan is not ending, its Annual Notice of Change letter will show what changed for 2027, and that is worth a look together.
What to Gather Before the Review
- Your parent's red, white and blue Medicare card, and their current plan card
- Any letters from the plan this fall, especially the Annual Notice of Change or a notice that the plan is ending
- Every prescription, with the dose and how often it is filled, and the pharmacy they use (or whether they use mail order)
- Every doctor, specialist, clinic and hospital they see, in Boise County and in the Treasure Valley
- Any Medicaid or Extra Help letters, since those can open up different plans and savings
Our Learning Center guide on checking doctors and drugs explains why each of these matters. If gathering all of it is hard, call us anyway. We can work through the list together on the phone.
Matching Plans to Their Health
Boise County adults have higher rates of several chronic conditions than the Idaho county average, according to CDC estimates. That is one reason we always ask about diagnoses, not just prescriptions.
| Measure (adults) | Boise County | Idaho county average |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosed diabetes | 12.1% | 10.1% |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1% | 6.2% |
| High blood pressure | 38% | 31.5% |
| COPD | 7.7% | 6.6% |
Source: CDC PLACES county data (2023 release), model-based estimates for adults 18 and over, accessed October 30, 2026.
Money matters too. In Idaho, 18.17% of people in a standalone drug plan get Extra Help with their drug costs (CMS 2027 Idaho fact sheet). If your parent lives on a tight income, ask us to check whether they might qualify. Social Security takes Extra Help applications, and we can walk you through it. For everyone else, the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 on covered drugs (CMS CY2027 Rate Announcement), which puts a ceiling on a bad drug year.
Special Needs Plans in Boise County for 2027
Special Needs Plans are Medicare Advantage plans built for one group of people. Boise County has 7 of them for 2027: 4 for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, and 3 for people with diabetes, chronic heart failure or cardiovascular disorders (CMS 2027 Landscape file).
| Plan | Built for people with | 2027 CMS stars |
|---|---|---|
| UHC Dual Complete ID-Y1 (HMO-POS D-SNP) UnitedHealthcare | Medicare and Medicaid | Not rated |
| UHC Dual Complete ID-QV1 (HMO-POS D-SNP) UnitedHealthcare | Medicare and Medicaid | Not rated |
| UHC Dual Complete ID-YL (HMO-POS D-SNP) UnitedHealthcare | Medicare and Medicaid (new for 2027) | Not rated |
| Molina Medicare Complete Care (HMO D-SNP) Molina Healthcare of Utah & Idaho | Medicare and Medicaid | 3.0 of 5 |
| UHC Complete Care ID-12 (HMO-POS C-SNP) UnitedHealthcare | Diabetes, chronic heart failure or cardiovascular disorders | 4.0 of 5 |
| UHC Complete Care Support ID-1A (PPO C-SNP) UnitedHealthcare | Diabetes, chronic heart failure or cardiovascular disorders | 4.5 of 5 |
| HumanaChoice Diabetes and Heart (PPO C-SNP) Humana | Diabetes, chronic heart failure or cardiovascular disorders | 4.5 of 5 |
Source: CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (202610), Boise County, accessed October 30, 2026. Listing a plan here does not mean Personal Touch represents it.
Medicare and Idaho Medicaid decide who qualifies, so we confirm your parent's eligibility before we compare these plans. If your parent does not qualify, the 14 regular Medicare Advantage plans in Boise County, or Medigap with a Part D plan, are the choices. We cover that decision in Medicare Advantage or Medigap in Boise County.
The plan a parent picked years ago may not be the plan that fits the parent they are now. A new diagnosis, a new specialist or a new prescription is a reason to look again, every fall.
Meeting Together
Here is how a family review works with us. You call or text 208-350-9933, and we find a time that works for you and your parent. We send the Scope of Appointment. Then we meet: by Zoom with you joining from wherever you are, by a three-way phone call, or in person at our Idaho City office by appointment. We go through the doctors, drugs and budget, compare the 2027 plans we represent, and tell you both plainly which one fits. If your parent does not have a computer, that is no problem; we can do all of it by phone.
There is no charge for our time, and your parent stays our client after enrollment, so when a bill or a letter does not make sense next spring, you know who to call. I can't wait to work with your family!
CarrieAnne
Set up a family review
Call or text 208-350-9933 and we will book one call or Zoom with you and your parent together, wherever you each live.
Call or text 208-350-9933 Send us a messageFrequently Asked Questions
Can I talk to Personal Touch about my parent's Medicare plan for them?
Yes, with your parent's say-so. We set up a call or Zoom with both of you, and your parent signs the Scope of Appointment Medicare requires before we discuss specific plans. If you hold a power of attorney, have a copy handy.
My parent's Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027. What should we do?
Pick a new plan before the Annual Enrollment Period ends on December 7, 2026, so coverage is in place on January 1, 2027. Seven plans with drug coverage sold in Boise County in 2026 end for 2027. Call or text us at 208-350-9933 and we will compare replacements with you.
Which Medicare plans in Boise County are for people with both Medicare and Medicaid?
Boise County has 4 Dual Special Needs Plans for 2027, from UnitedHealthcare and Molina, according to the CMS 2027 Landscape file. Medicare and Idaho Medicaid set who qualifies, so we check your parent's eligibility before comparing them.
I live out of state. Can you still help my parent in Boise County?
Yes. Most of our families meet with us by Zoom or phone, so you can join from anywhere while your parent joins from home. Your parent can also meet us in person at our Idaho City office by appointment.
Does it cost anything for Personal Touch to help my family?
No. There is no charge for our time, and your parent's premium is the same whether they enroll with us or on their own.
Keep Reading
Sources
- CMS 2027 Part C and D Plan Crosswalk, accessed October 30, 2026
- CMS CY2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (202509), accessed October 30, 2026
- CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (202610), Boise County plans, accessed October 30, 2026
- CMS, Medicare Open Enrollment in Idaho, 2027 fact sheet (September 28, 2026), accessed October 30, 2026
- CDC PLACES county data (2023 release), Boise County and Idaho, accessed October 30, 2026
- CMS, CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement (Part D out-of-pocket threshold), accessed October 30, 2026
- eCFR, 42 CFR 422.2264(c)(3), Scope of Appointment for personal marketing appointments, accessed October 30, 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.