More than 87,000 Iowa Medicare beneficiaries have received notice that their current plan is being canceled or discontinued in their county for 2027, according to an October 15 release from the Iowa Insurance Division. The cancellations include Medicare Advantage PPOs from Wellmark and Medica.
Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs through December 7. Members whose plans are ending have additional time after that, but the choices differ depending on the window used.
Which Iowa Medicare plans are canceled for 2027
The Iowa Insurance Division’s release says Wellmark and Medica Medicare Advantage PPOs are being canceled, and that as a result Iowans can no longer buy Medicare Advantage plans with in-network Mayo Clinic coverage. The release does not list every affected plan.
The state’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) publishes the list of canceled plans, last updated October 5, 2026. It names these Medicare Advantage plans:
- AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IA-1 HMO-POS (H5253-209)
- Humana Full Access PPO (H5216-411)
- Medica Advantage Preferred PPO, Select PPO, Solution PPO and Value PPO
- Blue Medicare Advantage PPO and Blue Medicare Advantage Valor PPO from Wellmark
The same page lists Aetna SilverScript Choice, a Part D drug plan, as ending December 31, 2026. It also lists Aetna Medicare Signature, Elite, Eagle, Value Care and Enhanced Extra plans that are shrinking their service areas in 2027, including counties such as Story, Lee, Des Moines and Clayton. Each Aetna plan covers a different county list, so the SHIIP page has to be checked plan by plan.
Next step: The cancellation notice from a Wellmark, Medica, Humana or AARP plan says a plan is ending but leaves the comparison of replacement plans unfinished. Pairing the notice with the cost calculator spreadsheet in The 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment Decision Kit lets each household compare candidate plans on cost, drugs and doctors.
Open Enrollment, December 31 and the February 28 window
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7. During it, a person can join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage plans or move between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, and coverage starts January 1. The plan must receive the request by December 7.
The Iowa Insurance Division says new coverage should be chosen by December 31, 2026 to avoid a gap, and that the Special Enrollment Period for people whose plans were canceled lasts through February 28, 2027. Medicare.gov’s special enrollment page describes the non-renewal window as December 8 through the last day of February. Whether a given plan counts as a contract non-renewal or a service-area reduction can change the exact window, so 1-800-MEDICARE or a SHIIP counselor can confirm the dates that apply to a specific plan.
What happens if a member does nothing
Medicare.gov says that anyone who does not join another Medicare Advantage plan before the current one ends is enrolled in Original Medicare. That means Part A hospital and Part B medical coverage, without the extras many Advantage plans bundle in.
Original Medicare does not include a drug plan. Medicare’s enrollment periods fact sheet says a standalone Part D plan has to be joined during an eligible period, and that a person who goes 63 or more days in a row without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable coverage may owe a Part D late enrollment penalty. The penalty is added to the Part D premium and generally lasts as long as the person has Part D. The fact sheet does not describe automatic enrollment in a drug plan.
The costliest mistake is likely to be assuming the old plan quietly carries over, or that Original Medicare brings prescription coverage with it. A person on a canceled PPO who takes regular medications and ignores the mail could start January with no drug plan.
Medigap rights for people returning to Original Medicare
Members who move to Original Medicare may look at a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. The Iowa Insurance Division says members whose Medicare Advantage plans are canceled have a guaranteed issue right to buy one without medical underwriting, so a pre-existing condition cannot lead to a denial or higher premium.
Medicare.gov’s Medigap page lists a plan leaving Medicare or no longer covering where a person lives as federal guaranteed issue situations. The application window starts 60 days before the Medicare Advantage coverage ends and runs no more than 63 days after it ends. Those are federal rights only, and the page says to check with the State Insurance Department for state-level options. Medigap does not cover drugs, so a Part D plan is a separate decision.
Free counseling and where to call
SHIIP-SMP offers free, unbiased counseling at 1-800-351-4664 or through the “Find a Counselor” tool at shiip.iowa.gov. The Iowa Insurance Division warns that appointments fill quickly. Medicare’s 24/7 helpline is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
The division also advises members to read mail from their plan, compare 2027 options on Medicare.gov using the Medicare Plan Finder, and check that doctors and prescriptions are covered under any replacement plan. Plan details, premiums and networks vary by county, so a comparison done for one county does not carry over to another.
Replacing a canceled Iowa Medicare Advantage plan
The Iowa Insurance Division’s release points members of the canceled Wellmark, Medica and other plans toward comparing 2027 options and, for some, a return to Original Medicare. That leaves the practical work of checking replacement plans against current drugs and doctors, and understanding the Medigap guaranteed issue right, to each household.
The 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment Decision Kit combines a prescription-by-plan comparison and a provider call script, and it explains Medigap guaranteed-issue rights when a Medicare Advantage plan leaves or a member returns to Original Medicare, with a call script.
Compare replacement plans with the prescription-by-plan comparison in The 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment Decision Kit.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against Iowa Insurance Division, Iowa SHIIP and Medicare.gov guidance.
Nathaniel Cross focuses on retirement planning, employer benefits, and long-term income security. His writing covers pensions, social programs, investment vehicles, and strategies designed to protect financial independence later in life. At The Daily Overview, Nathaniel provides practical insight to help readers plan with confidence and foresight.
