NEI3A has developed a Medicare Open Enrollment toolkit! Please see the following links for various resources around Medicare and Medicare Open Enrollment: SHIP help, Medigap, Turning 65, and SHIP TA Center Facebook page.
Iowa Insurance Division Press Release October 15, 2026
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Plans opened October 15, 2026, and runs through December 7, 2026. Ahead of this year’s enrollment window, more than 87,000 Iowa Medicare beneficiaries received notice that their current Medicare plan is being canceled or discontinued in their county. To view the complete Press Release, click here.
Exciting changes for Iowa Compass! The Iowa Compass Resource Database got a much-needed refresh and a brand new look. Iowa Compass made the transition to a new database software provider to create a more user-friendly experience for online searches and make it easier to find aging and disability information and resources.
Need help finding resources during this transition? As always, the Iowa Compass team will be ready to help:
Iowa HHS recently refreshed the HOME website with a new look and a simpler layout. These changes will make it easier to find important information, stay up to date on HOME progress, and access new HOME resources as they become available. Take a look! View HOME Website
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the updated Iowa Olmstead Plan, which provides a strategic framework to expand opportunities, improve service access, and enhance the quality of life for Iowans with disabilities.
The updated plan outlines how state agencies, local governments, and community organizations can work together to build a more coordinated and inclusive system of support. Through an emphasis on collaboration, the Olmstead Plan reaffirms Iowa’s commitment to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the ability to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.
The plan identifies several Olmstead Progress Areas that guide this work, including strengthening community-based services, expanding independent living opportunities, improving access to housing and transportation, and supporting employment and wellness initiatives. These priorities reinforce Iowa’s dedication to advancing integration and promoting meaningful choice for individuals with disabilities.
You may access the plan and related materials using the links below:
2026 Olmstead Plan Summary & Resource Documents
Olmstead Plan and Stakeholder Engagement | Health & Human Services
Every three years the Iowa SILC reaches out for input from people around the state who have disabilities. This feedback is used to develop their Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). Please consider taking this survey. For more information, visit Survey | Iowa SILC.
The Medicare open enrollment period (OEP) is coming up from October 15- December 7. This is the annual opportunity for all Medicare beneficiaries to review their Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plan changes for the year ahead and compare options for enrollment starting January 1.
For more information, please go to Iowa HHS Open Enrollment Period.