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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
Medicare Part D Plans Iowa 2027: 8 Plans After SilverScript Exit
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 3, 2026
Iowa has 8 standalone Medicare Part D plans for 2027 in our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, from Humana, Wellcare, HealthSpring, MedicareBlue Rx and UnitedHealthcare. SilverScript Choice is gone for 2027, and Iowa’s SHIIP-SMP program says more than 87,000 Iowans face a canceled Medicare Advantage or drug plan.
2027 by the Numbers
8
standalone Part D plans for Iowa in 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
87,000+
Iowans facing Medicare Advantage or Part D plan cancellations for 2027 (Iowa SHIIP-SMP)
64
individual Medicare Advantage plans filed for Iowa in 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
Iowa enters 2027 shopping season with an unusual amount of disruption. In October 2026, the state’s SHIIP-SMP counselors warned that more than 87,000 Iowans are losing a Medicare Advantage or drug plan, including SilverScript Choice and several Wellmark and Medica PPOs.
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings finds 8 standalone plans (PDPs) for Iowa from 5 sponsors; Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly. Iowa shares a Part D region with Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, so the same plans appear across the Upper Midwest. National 2027 rules are on the Medicare Part D plans 2027 hub.
Key Takeaways
- Our count shows 8 Iowa standalone plans for 2027: 3 from Humana, 2 from Wellcare, and 1 each from HealthSpring, MedicareBlue Rx and UnitedHealthcare.
- SilverScript Choice is canceled in Iowa, and HealthSpring Extra Rx members are being moved into HealthSpring Assurance Rx.
- Members of a canceled plan have until the last day of February 2027 to pick new coverage, and picking by December 31 avoids a gap.
- Only one UnitedHealthcare plan, Medicare Rx Saver from UHC, is filed for Iowa’s region in our count.
- SHIIP-SMP, offered through the Iowa Insurance Division, gives free one-on-one plan help.
What Was Canceled for Iowans in 2027
| Plan | Type | 2027 status reported by Iowa SHIIP-SMP |
|---|---|---|
| SilverScript Choice (S5601-050) | Standalone drug plan | Canceled |
| HealthSpring Extra Rx (S5617-375) | Standalone drug plan | Members moved to HealthSpring Assurance Rx |
| Wellmark Blue Medicare Advantage PPO and Valor PPO | Medicare Advantage | Canceled |
| Medica Advantage Preferred, Select, Solution and Value PPOs | Medicare Advantage | Canceled |
| UnitedHealthcare IA-1 HMO-POS and Humana Full Access PPO | Medicare Advantage | Canceled |
As reported October 21, 2026 from Iowa SHIIP-SMP notices. Some other plans are shrinking service areas; SHIIP-SMP posts a county list.
The Wellmark and Medica PPO cancellations also end Medicare Advantage plans that included in-network access to the Mayo Clinic. Iowans who rely on Mayo may want to compare Original Medicare plus a standalone drug plan against any remaining Advantage options.
Iowa's 8 Standalone Plans in Our Count
| Sponsor | Iowa plans for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Humana | Humana Basic Rx Plan; Humana Value Rx Plan; Humana Premier Rx Plan |
| Wellcare | Wellcare Classic; Wellcare Value Script |
| HealthSpring | HealthSpring Assurance Rx |
| MedicareBlue Rx | MedicareBlue Rx Standard |
| UnitedHealthcare | Medicare Rx Saver from UHC |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings for individual standalone PDPs. Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly.
Regional Blue plan: MedicareBlue Rx is filed jointly by Wellmark (Iowa and South Dakota) and the Blue plans of Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming. It is the one standalone option in Iowa from a Blue company; more on Blue drug plans is on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Part D 2027 page.
Deadlines If Your Iowa Plan Is Ending
1
Keep the non-renewal letter. SHIIP-SMP advises keeping it as proof of your right to a special enrollment period and, for Advantage members, Medigap protections.
2
December 7, 2026. Last day of Annual Enrollment for anyone changing plans.
3
December 31, 2026. Choose a new plan by this date so coverage starts January 1 without a gap.
4
Last day of February 2027. The special enrollment period for members of canceled plans closes.
How special windows work in general is on the Part D special enrollment period 2027 page. Advantage members whose plan ends have a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap policies when they return to Original Medicare.
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Our Math: The HealthSpring Move
Iowa SHIIP-SMP flagged a $117.10 premium increase for HealthSpring Extra Rx members moved into Assurance Rx. Read as a monthly figure, that adds up quickly over a year.
$117.10
reported premium increase after the move into Assurance Rx
$1,405.20
extra premium over 12 months, if the increase is monthly (our math)
$2,400
2027 cap on covered drug costs, which premiums never count toward
A person moved automatically does not have to stay. Comparing the other 7 Iowa plans for the same drug list may turn up a lower yearly total, depending on the plan and pharmacy. Details on the company’s lineup are on the HealthSpring Part D 2027 page.
Polk County Has 44 Advantage Plans; Taylor County Has 8
Most Advantage choice (our count)
✔
Polk, Clinton, Jasper and Warren: 44 plans each
✔
Dallas: 43 plans
✔
UnitedHealthcare files the most Iowa plans with 15, then Aetna with 11
Least Advantage choice (our count)
✔
Taylor: 8 plans
✔
Davis: 11 plans
✔
Palo Alto: 12 plans
Standalone drug plans are not tied to counties, so all 8 are offered in Taylor County just as in Polk. In rural southern and northwestern Iowa, where Advantage menus are short, a standalone plan paired with Original Medicare is often the more practical path.
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SHIIP-SMP and State Drug Help in Iowa
Iowa’s free counselors: SHIIP-SMP is offered through the Iowa Insurance Division. Trained volunteers at local sponsor sites support more than 50,000 Iowans a year with plan comparisons, and its Senior Medicare Patrol team handles suspected Medicare fraud.
Our search found no Iowa state pharmaceutical assistance program that pays Part D premiums or copays; Medicare.gov’s state program list can confirm. Iowans with limited income can turn to federal Extra Help, and those on Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program receive it automatically.
Only One UnitedHealthcare Option in Iowa
Iowa notes from our 2027 count
✔
Medicare Rx Saver from UHC is filed for Iowa’s region; Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC is not in our Iowa count
✔
Humana is the only sponsor with three Iowa standalone plans
✔
No Aetna standalone plan appears in our Iowa count for 2027
✔
All 8 plans cover the same seven-state region, so a move to a neighboring Upper Midwest state may not change your plan
UnitedHealthcare’s national standalone lineup is described on the UnitedHealthcare Part D 2027 page. Plan availability can change, and not all plans cover every drug.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Iowa’s 2027 standalone menu holds 8 plans from 5 sponsors in our count, with SilverScript Choice gone and HealthSpring Extra Rx folded into Assurance Rx. More than 87,000 Iowans have a plan ending, and they can choose new coverage through the last day of February 2027, though acting by December 31 avoids a gap. SHIIP-SMP offers free help comparing the options.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
➤ How many standalone Part D plans are available in Iowa for 2027?
Eight, in our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, from Humana, Wellcare, HealthSpring, MedicareBlue Rx and UnitedHealthcare.
➤ Is SilverScript Choice still offered in Iowa?
No. Iowa SHIIP-SMP lists SilverScript Choice (S5601-050) as canceled for 2027, and our count shows no Aetna standalone plan in Iowa.
➤ What happens to HealthSpring Extra Rx members in Iowa?
They are being moved into HealthSpring Assurance Rx, with a reported $117.10 premium increase. They may switch to another plan instead.
➤ Who offers MedicareBlue Rx?
Wellmark, for Iowa and South Dakota, together with the Blue plans of Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming.
➤ My Wellmark or Medica Advantage PPO is ending. What now?
You can pick a new Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare with a standalone drug plan, and you may have a guaranteed right to certain Medigap policies.
➤ How long do I have if my Iowa plan was canceled?
Through the last day of February 2027 under the special enrollment period. Choosing by December 31, 2026 keeps coverage continuous on January 1.
➤ Does Iowa help pay for prescription drugs?
We found no Iowa state pharmaceutical assistance program for Part D. Federal Extra Help is the main source of help.
➤ Where can Iowans get free Medicare counseling?
SHIIP-SMP, offered through the Iowa Insurance Division, has trained volunteers at local sponsor sites across the state.
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