Medicare in Hamlin County, South Dakota · Plan Year 2026

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

Hamlin County has 8 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026 — 5 with a $0 premium — serving a county where CMS counts 1,232 Medicare beneficiaries. 13% 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

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2026 Medicare Advantage by the numbers

Hamlin County Medicare at a glance

$35.08average monthly plan premium (Part C)
5plans with a $0 premium
$5,875average in-network out-of-pocket max (highest $6,750)
$488average Part D drug deductible
13%of plans rated CMS 4★ or higher
1,232Medicare beneficiaries in Hamlin County (2025)
537enrolled 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 $72.4/mo.

What neighbors actually chose

Most-enrolled Medicare Advantage plans in Hamlin County

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

  1. Medica Advantage Select (PPO) (PPO) — 227 enrollees
  2. Medica Advantage Value (PPO) (PPO) — 181 enrollees
  3. Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO) (PPO) — 76 enrollees
  4. Medica Advantage Solution H8889-009 (PPO) (PPO) — 27 enrollees
  5. Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) (PPO) — 14 enrollees

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

Plan type

Medicare Advantage PPO plans in Hamlin 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 Hamlin County for 2026 is a PPO, so network flexibility is the local baseline.

  • 8 PPO plans available
  • $35.08 average monthly premium
  • 5 with a $0 premium
  • $5,875 average out-of-pocket max
  • 537 Hamlin County enrollees
  • Most enrolled: Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO)
  • 3 without drug coverage
PlanCMS ratingPremium/moOut-of-pocket maxPart D deductibleCMS plan ID
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
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 Eagle (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $6,750 No drug coverage H1608_061
Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO)
Average (CMS 3.5★)
3.5★ $0 $5,000 $615 H1608_119

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 Hamlin County

CMS ratingPlans% of plans
4.5★113%
3.5★788%

The average CMS rating across Hamlin County's 8 plans is 3.63. No 5-star plan is sold in Hamlin 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 Hamlin County adults

The right coverage depends on your health. CDC PLACES model-based prevalence for Hamlin County (6,451 residents) — a reason to check each plan's drug formulary and specialist network before enrolling:

High blood pressure 30.3%
Obesity 34.6%
Arthritis 23.9%
Diagnosed diabetes 10.1%
Coronary heart disease 6.2%
Uninsured (18–64) 9.1%

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

Real CMS data · Free · Agent-callable

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How and when to enroll in Hamlin 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 Hamlin 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 Hamlin County

2026 plans in the tables above are sold county-wide. That includes residents of Bryant, Castlewood, Claremont Colony, Estelline, Hayti, Hazel, Lake Norden, Lake Poinsett, Poinsett Colony, and all other Hamlin 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.

Hamlin County Medicare questions, answered

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

8 standard Medicare Advantage plans are sold in Hamlin County for 2026, 5 of them with a $0 Part C premium. Another 4 Special Needs Plans (D-SNP/I-SNP) serve residents who qualify.

How many people in Hamlin County are on Medicare?

CMS counts 1,232 Medicare beneficiaries in Hamlin County (2025), of whom about 603 (49%) are in Medicare Advantage or other non-Original-Medicare coverage.

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

The average Part C premium across Hamlin County's 8 plans is $35.08/month, and 5 plans charge $0. Including Part D drug premiums, the average consolidated premium is $72.4/month. The average in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $5,875 (highest: $6,750). You still pay your Part B premium with any plan.

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

Per CDC PLACES, among Hamlin County adults: high blood pressure 30.3%, obesity 34.6%, arthritis 23.9%, diagnosed diabetes 10.1%. 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 Hamlin 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 Hamlin 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 Hamlin 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 Hamlin 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 Hamlin 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