Iowa Medicare Plan Cancellations Affect More Than 87,000, Leaving Mayo Clinic Without In-Network Option

More than 87,000 Iowa Medicare beneficiaries have received notice that their current Medicare plan will be canceled or discontinued in their county for 2027, according to the Iowa Insurance Division. The affected plans include Medicare Advantage, Cost, and Part D plans. Open enrollment runs through Dec. 7, and state counselors are urging residents not to delay.

The changes also remove an option many Iowa families depend on. Because Wellmark’s and Medica’s Medicare Advantage PPO plans are being canceled, Iowans will no longer be able to select a Medicare Advantage plan with in-network coverage at Mayo Clinic, the state said.

For households in northern Iowa who travel to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for cancer, heart, or specialty care, the gap raises immediate questions about continuity of treatment. Adult children assisting parents with mail should watch for a non-renewal letter.

Insurers and Plans Behind the Cancellations

State officials named Wellmark and Medica. Wellmark is among several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027, according to Becker’s Hospital Review.

The state’s SHIIP-SMP list of affected Medicare plans shows two Wellmark Blue Medicare Advantage PPO plans and four Medica Advantage PPO plans ending entirely. Other plans ending include a UnitedHealthcare HMO-POS plan and a Humana PPO plan, and some plans are shrinking service areas by county. The page lists every affected plan and county.

Iowa has more than 700,000 Medicare beneficiaries, so the cancellations affect about one in eight.

Three Deadlines That Matter

Iowa officials outlined three dates. Dec. 7 is the standard open enrollment deadline to compare and choose 2027 coverage. Dec. 31 is the last day for people whose plans are canceled to choose new coverage starting Jan. 1 without a gap. Feb. 28, 2027, is the end of a special enrollment period for those enrollees, but anyone who waits past Dec. 31 may face a coverage gap starting Jan. 1.

People who do nothing are not left uninsured, but they may lose drug coverage. Under federal rules, Medicare.gov says members move to Original Medicare if they do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before their current plan ends. Original Medicare does not include drug coverage, so those members would need a separate Part D plan.

The cancellations also open a rare opportunity. People whose Medicare Advantage plans are canceled can switch to Original Medicare and buy a Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, policy without medical underwriting. Insurers cannot deny them or charge more because of pre-existing conditions. Griffith said the guaranteed-issue option “is a rare opportunity that isn’t typically available to Medicare Advantage enrollees.”

Free Help for Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Rural Iowa

The people most at risk of disruption are those in active treatment, including cancer care, dialysis, or regular specialist visits, and anyone who depends on Mayo Clinic. Before choosing a plan, call each doctor and hospital to ask which 2027 plans they accept.

Enter every prescription into Medicare’s plan comparison tool to see total yearly costs, not just premiums. Compare out-of-pocket limits and drug deductibles across plans.

People weighing Original Medicare with a Medigap policy should compare the higher monthly premium against lower costs when care is needed. That choice can matter most for people who expect frequent treatment. Original Medicare with a supplement generally lets patients see any provider that accepts Medicare, which may matter for families who want to keep using out-of-state specialists such as Mayo Clinic. Ask the clinic directly how it handles Original Medicare patients before deciding.

Iowa’s SHIIP-SMP program offers free, unbiased counseling through 430 trained and certified volunteer counselors and assists more than 55,000 Iowans a year. The state warns that counselor availability is limited and appointments fill quickly. Reach a local site at 1-800-351-4664, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) any time. The Iowa Insurance Division can be reached at 515-654-6600.

Be cautious with unsolicited calls offering to switch your plan, and never share your Medicare number with someone you did not contact. The most practical step this week is to find the letter, list every doctor and drug, and book a counseling appointment before December fills up.

Nationally, a KFF analysis of county plan availability found that 193 counties will have no Medicare Advantage drug plan open to general enrollment in 2027, up from 123, though no Iowa counties are among them.

Key Questions Answered

How many Iowans are affected? More than 87,000 Iowa Medicare beneficiaries were told their Medicare Advantage, Cost, or Part D plan is ending in their county for 2027.

Which insurers are involved? The state named Wellmark and Medica Medicare Advantage PPO plans. The full plan list is on the SHIIP-SMP website.

Can I still get Mayo Clinic in network? Not through a Medicare Advantage plan sold in Iowa for 2027, according to state officials.

What are the deadlines? Dec. 7 for open enrollment, Dec. 31 to avoid a coverage gap, and Feb. 28, 2027, for the special enrollment period.

What happens if I do nothing? You move to Original Medicare, which does not include drug coverage unless you add a Part D plan.

Where can I get free help? Call SHIIP-SMP at 1-800-351-4664 or 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227.

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