Medicare open enrollment started Thursday, Oct. 15, and Spring Hill and Thompson's Station seniors face higher prescription drug costs when 2027 coverage kicks in Jan. 1.

The enrollment window runs through Monday, Dec. 7. More than 1.5 million Tennessee residents are enrolled in Medicare, and about 81% carry Part D prescription drug coverage, according to the Columbia Daily Herald.

Part D costs are going up. The maximum deductible for Part D plans will rise from $615 in 2026 to $700 in 2027. The annual out-of-pocket cap will climb from $2,100 to $2,400. Some plans may charge less or carry no deductible.

The average monthly premium for stand-alone Part D plans will tick up to $36 from $35.09, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced. Medicare Advantage plan premiums, by contrast, will drop to an average of $12 from $14.37.

Eligibility rules are tightening. Starting in 2027, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, Cuban-Haitian entrant or a lawfully present migrant from a Compact of Free Association nation. Current rules require beneficiaries to be U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted noncitizens who have lived in the country at least five years, the Daily Herald reported.

A new chronic-care option arrives. Medicare introduced a voluntary program called ACCESS, short for Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions. The program links a beneficiary's doctor with other providers and resources to manage chronic conditions. Residents with Original Medicare can ask their physician whether the program is available.

Diabetes prevention goes virtual. Seniors with prediabetes can now join the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program online. Sessions were previously offered only in person. Starting in 2027, participants can attend live virtual sessions or watch recorded videos.

A temporary Part D premium subsidy program will also end at year's end, ABC News reported. The Biden administration introduced the subsidy in 2024 to lower prescription drug costs affected by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The Trump administration is concluding the program. Separately, new Medicare-negotiated prices will take effect for 15 drugs, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy.

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Nancy LeaMond said in a statement that "higher healthcare costs are making it harder for older Americans to afford the care they need."

The number of Tennesseans 65 and older grew 30% over the past decade, rising from 15.7% of the state's population to 18.6%, according to the Sycamore Institute. Spring Hill's median age was 34.3 in the 2020 census, but the city has grown to nearly 59,400 residents.

Residents who need help comparing plans can call Tennessee's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP) at 1-877-801-0044 or email [email protected]. The federally funded program, run through the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging, offers free counseling for Medicare beneficiaries and their families, according to TN SHIP's website.

Once the Dec. 7 enrollment window closes, beneficiaries stay in their selected 2027 plan unless they qualify for a special enrollment period.