Medicare in Brookings County, South Dakota · Plan Year 2026

Medicare Advantage Plans in Brookings County, SD: Your Complete 2026 Guide

Brookings County has 12 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026 — 7 with a $0 premium — serving a county where CMS counts 5,946 Medicare beneficiaries. 8% of plans are rated 4 stars or higher by CMS. Below is the real data — every plan, premium, and rating — plus a live tool for your ZIP.

Page last revised: 2026-07-19 · Plan and enrollment data refreshed: 2026-07-19 · Plan year 2026

Get a free Brookings County plan review →

2026 Medicare Advantage by the numbers

Brookings County Medicare at a glance

$29.49average monthly plan premium (Part C)
7plans with a $0 premium
$5,529.17average in-network out-of-pocket max (highest $6,750)
$423.75average Part D drug deductible
8%of plans rated CMS 4★ or higher
5,946Medicare beneficiaries in Brookings County (2025)
2,420enrolled in local MA plans (CMS county enrollment)

Sources: CMS Medicare Advantage/Part D Landscape (PY2026) · CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment (county). Premium figures are Part C premiums; consolidated Part C + D average is $63.5/mo.

What neighbors actually chose

Most-enrolled Medicare Advantage plans in Brookings County

Enrollment counts are CMS facts, not our recommendation — the right plan depends on your doctors, drugs, and budget.

  1. Blue Medicare Advantage Enhanced PPO (PPO) (PPO) — 1,118 enrollees
  2. Medica Advantage Select (PPO) (PPO) — 482 enrollees
  3. Medica Advantage Value (PPO) (PPO) — 325 enrollees
  4. Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO) (PPO) — 180 enrollees
  5. Align ChoicePlus (PPO) (PPO) — 93 enrollees

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Enrollment by State/County/Contract (counts under 11 suppressed by CMS).

Plan type

Medicare Advantage PPO plans in Brookings County

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans let you see any provider that accepts the plan, in or out of network, with lower cost sharing in network. Every standard Medicare Advantage plan sold in Brookings County for 2026 is a PPO, so network flexibility is the local baseline.

  • 12 PPO plans available
  • $29.49 average monthly premium
  • 7 with a $0 premium
  • $5,529.17 average out-of-pocket max
  • 2,420 Brookings County enrollees
  • Most enrolled: Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO)
  • 4 without drug coverage
PlanCMS ratingPremium/moOut-of-pocket maxPart D deductibleCMS plan ID
Blue Medicare Advantage Enhanced PPO (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $63 $4,200 $300 H5900_004
Medica Advantage Select (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $80 $5,000 $355 H8889_018
Medica Advantage Value (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $25 $6,750 $615 H8889_017
Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $175.6 $3,300 $240 H8889_013
Align ChoicePlus (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $4,900 $350 H8385_003
Medica Advantage Solution H8889-009 (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $6,750 No drug coverage H8889_009
Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $6,750 $615 H1608_120
AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx SI-MA2 (PPO)
Strong (CMS 4★+)
4.5★ $0 $6,700 No drug coverage H2001_139
Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $5,000 $615 H1608_119
Blue Medicare Advantage Valor PPO (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $6,750 No drug coverage H5900_007
Align ChoiceElite (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $10.3 $3,500 $300 H8385_001
Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $6,750 No drug coverage H1608_061

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage/Part D Landscape (PY2026) · CMS Medicare Part C & D Star Ratings (2026). "Stability" is the plan's published CMS Overall Star Rating tier — a federal quality measure, not our opinion.

Quality, in CMS's own numbers

Medicare Advantage plan ratings in Brookings County

CMS ratingPlans% of plans
4.5★18%
3.5★1192%

The average CMS rating across Brookings County's 12 plans is 3.58. No 5-star plan is sold in Brookings County for 2026 — which also means the year-round 5-star Special Enrollment Period is not available locally.

Source: CMS Medicare Part C & D Star Ratings (2026).

Health profile · why plan choice matters here

Chronic conditions among Brookings County adults

The right coverage depends on your health. CDC PLACES model-based prevalence for Brookings County (35,980 residents) — a reason to check each plan's drug formulary and specialist network before enrolling:

High blood pressure 25.5%
Obesity 35.7%
Arthritis 18.8%
Diagnosed diabetes 8.5%
Coronary heart disease 5%
Uninsured (18–64) 7.3%

Source: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, County (crude prevalence).

Hospitals serving Brookings County

  • BROOKINGS HEALTH SYSTEMBrookings · CMS 4★ overall hospital rating

Source: CMS Hospital Compare — Overall Star Ratings.

Real CMS data · Free · Agent-callable

See your Brookings County plans now

Enter your ZIP for an instant plan count and top CMS-rated options — then your full ranked report.

Question 1 of 2

Where do you live?

We pull the Medicare Advantage plans that actually serve your county.

Quick pick:

How and when to enroll in Brookings County

When you can sign up

  • Initial Enrollment Period — the 7-month window around your 65th birthday (3 before, your birthday month, 3 after). Medicare 101 →
  • Annual Enrollment Period — October 15 to December 7 each year, for 2027 coverage decisions.
  • Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment — January 1 to March 31, one switch allowed if you already have an MA plan.
  • Special Enrollment Periods — after life events like moving counties, losing employer coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help.

Ways to enroll

  • With a licensed local agent (free)Big Sioux Benefits · (605) 555-0142 · Mon–Fri 8am–6pm CT. We compare the plans we offer in Brookings County against your doctors and drugs.
  • Directly with a plan's carrier — using the CMS plan ID from the tables above.
  • Through Medicare.gov — the federal plan finder and enrollment portal.

Plan availability in Brookings County

2026 plans in the tables above are sold county-wide. That includes residents of Arlington, Aurora, Brookings, Bruce, Bushnell, Elkton, Lake Poinsett, Newdale Colony, Norfeld Colony, Rolland Colony, Sinai, Volga, White, and all other Brookings County communities. To enroll in Medicare Advantage or a Cost plan you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and live in the plan's service area.

Brookings County Medicare questions, answered

How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Brookings County, SD for 2026?

12 standard Medicare Advantage plans are sold in Brookings County for 2026, 7 of them with a $0 Part C premium. Another 6 Special Needs Plans (D-SNP/I-SNP) serve residents who qualify.

How many people in Brookings County are on Medicare?

CMS counts 5,946 Medicare beneficiaries in Brookings County (2025), of whom about 2,648 (45%) are in Medicare Advantage or other non-Original-Medicare coverage.

What does a Medicare Advantage plan cost in Brookings County for 2026?

The average Part C premium across Brookings County's 12 plans is $29.49/month, and 7 plans charge $0. Including Part D drug premiums, the average consolidated premium is $63.5/month. The average in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $5,529.17 (highest: $6,750). You still pay your Part B premium with any plan.

What health conditions matter most for choosing a plan in Brookings County?

Per CDC PLACES, among Brookings County adults: high blood pressure 25.5%, obesity 35.7%, arthritis 18.8%, diagnosed diabetes 8.5%. Conditions like these are why we match a plan's drug formulary, specialist network, and out-of-pocket maximum to your actual health needs before you enroll.

When can I enroll in a Medicare plan in Brookings County?

During your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday, the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31, for current MA members), or a Special Enrollment Period after qualifying life events such as moving or losing employer coverage.

Sources, citations, and methodology

Methodology: plan counts, premiums, out-of-pocket maximums, Part D deductibles, and star ratings are computed from the CMS PY2026 Landscape source files for Brookings County, South Dakota. Headline "average premium" and "$0 premium" figures use the Part C premium; the consolidated Part C + D premium is reported separately. Special Needs Plans (D-SNP, I-SNP) and Medicare Cost plans are excluded from Medicare Advantage averages and shown separately. County enrollment sums CMS contract-level enrollment for Brookings County; CMS suppresses counts under 11, so totals are conservative. Health prevalence figures are CDC PLACES model-based estimates. Content is prepared by the Big Sioux Benefits Data Desk and reviewed for accuracy against the cited files; plan details change — verify with a licensed agent before enrolling.

Big Sioux Benefits is a licensed insurance agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for all options.

Comparing Brookings County to the rest of South Dakota

Plans are approved county by county, so the list above is not the state's list. For the statewide picture — every plan sold in South Dakota, carrier enrollment, Medicare Cost plans, star-rating spread, and the counties with no Advantage plan at all — see the South Dakota Medicare guide (2026) → or browse all 66 county guides.

Talk to a licensed Brookings County Medicare advisor

Free, no pressure — we compare the plans we offer against your doctors, drugs, and budget.

Book a free consultation →   (605) 555-0142

· Big Sioux Benefits Data Desk