Your Independent Medicare Agent in Minnesota

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Minnesota Medicare is changing more for 2027 than it has in a decade. Plans are closing, carriers are leaving counties, and the drug cap is going up. If you pick a plan off a postcard this fall, you may find out in January that your doctor, your hospital or your prescriptions are no longer covered.

VitalShield Insurance Services is an independent Medicare agency based in Blaine with an office in Minneapolis. Tim Peddycoart has worked as an independent broker for more than 20 years. We compare plans from multiple Minnesota carriers side by side, and our help costs you nothing.

Call 763-290-1267 or book a review below.

What a Minnesota Medicare agent actually does for you

A licensed Medicare agent helps you compare coverage, check that your doctors and prescriptions fit a plan, and handle the enrollment paperwork. An independent agent works with several insurance companies instead of one, so you see more than one option before you decide.

Here is what that looks like with us:

We review your doctors, hospitals and current prescriptions before we recommend anything.

We compare Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost and Part D plans available in your county.

We explain what each option costs you over a full year, not just the monthly premium.

We handle the application and follow up until your coverage is active.

We review your plan every fall so a carrier change does not catch you off guard.

You pay nothing for this. Agents are paid by the insurance companies, and your premium is the same whether you enroll through us or directly with the carrier.

Why 2027 is a bad year to go it alone in Minnesota

Minnesota is one of the hardest hit states in the 2027 Medicare Advantage pullback. The number of Medicare Advantage plans in the state drops from 68 to 53 next year, about a 22% decline.

What is changing:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is discontinuing most of its current Medicare Advantage plans and launching a new lineup for 2027. It is leaving some counties entirely. Its Medicare Supplement, Part D and Platinum Blue cost plans continue.

Humana is leaving the individual Medicare Advantage market in Minnesota.

HealthPartners, Medica and UnitedHealthcare are shrinking their service areas.

Some counties will have no Medicare Advantage plan at all for 2027. Crow Wing County is one.

Fairview will stop scheduling patients with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans starting January 1, 2027.

Minnesota's average Medicare Advantage premium is projected to be the second highest in the country for 2027.

If you received a plan termination letter, you have options, and some of them have deadlines. Losing an Advantage plan can give you a guaranteed right to buy certain Medicare Supplement coverage without health questions, but only for a limited window. Miss it and you may face medical underwriting.

Minnesota Medicare is not like other states

Most national Medicare websites get Minnesota wrong. Three things make our state different:

1. Minnesota has its own Medigap system. Minnesota is one of three states that do not use the standard lettered Medicare Supplement plans. There is no Plan G here. Minnesota uses a Basic Plan and an Extended Basic Plan, plus cost-sharing and high-deductible options and optional riders. If you are comparing Plan G prices from a national site, you are comparing plans you cannot buy. Read why there is no Plan G in Minnesota.

2. Minnesota still has Medicare Cost plans. Cost plans are rare nationally and still available in parts of Minnesota. They work differently from Medicare Advantage and can be a strong fit for people who travel or split time between Minnesota and another state.

3. Minnesota has its own Medigap rules. State law gives Minnesotans protections that go beyond federal minimums. An agent who works in Minnesota every day knows how these rules apply to your situation.

The Medicare options we compare for Minnesotans

Medicare Supplement (Medigap). Pairs with Original Medicare. You keep your choice of any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare. Higher monthly premium, low and predictable costs when you use care.

Medicare Advantage. A private plan that replaces Original Medicare for your hospital and medical coverage. Often lower premiums, with networks, copays and an annual out-of-pocket limit. Plan availability for 2027 depends heavily on your county.

Medicare Cost plans. A Minnesota-specific option that combines a network with the ability to use Original Medicare outside it.

Part D prescription drug plans. For 2027, the most you pay out of pocket for covered drugs is $2,400 for the year, up from $2,100 in 2026. The standard deductible rises to $700. We run your exact prescriptions through each plan's formulary before recommending one.

Dental, vision and hearing. Original Medicare does not cover routine dental. We can quote standalone dental plans from multiple carriers.

Turning 65 in Minnesota

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. If you are still working and have employer coverage, the right move depends on the size of your employer and how your plan coordinates with Medicare. Getting it wrong can mean a lifetime Part B penalty.

We walk you through Part A and Part B timing, your Medigap open enrollment window, and how to compare plans before your coverage starts.

Where we serve

We work with Medicare clients across Minnesota, in person and by phone or video. Most of our clients live in the Twin Cities metro:

Anoka County: Blaine, Coon Rapids, Andover, Ham Lake, Anoka, Fridley

Hennepin County: Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Edina

Ramsey County: St. Paul, Roseville, Shoreview, White Bear Lake

Washington, Carver and Scott counties

We also serve clients in Greater Minnesota and in Southwest Florida. If you split the year between Minnesota and Florida, we can help you find coverage that works in both places.

What to bring to your Medicare review

We work with Medicare clients across Minnesota, in person and by phone or video. Most of our clients live in the Twin Cities metro:

Your red, white and blue Medicare card (or your expected start date)

A list of your current prescriptions and dosages

Names of your doctors, clinics and preferred hospital

Any plan change or termination letter you received for 2027

Your current plan's ID card, if you have one

Key 2027 enrollment dates

October 15 to December 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment Period. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.

January 1 to March 31, 2027: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you are in an Advantage plan, you can make one change.

If your plan is ending: You may have a Special Enrollment Period and a guaranteed issue right for certain Medigap plans. Call us so we can confirm your deadlines.

Why Minnesotans work with VitalShield

Independent. We represent multiple carriers, not one.

Local. Based in Blaine, office in Minneapolis, licensed in Minnesota.

Experienced. More than 20 years as an independent broker.

Year-round. We answer the phone after you enroll, and we review your plan every fall.

No cost. Our help is free to you.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to use a Medicare agent in Minnesota?

No. Licensed agents are paid by the insurance companies. Your premium is the same whether you enroll through an agent or directly with the carrier.

What is the difference between a Medicare agent and a Medicare broker?

The terms are often used the same way. An independent agent or broker represents several insurance companies. A captive agent represents one. VitalShield is independent.

Is there a Plan G in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota uses its own Medigap system with a Basic Plan and an Extended Basic Plan, plus cost-sharing and high-deductible options. Standard lettered plans like Plan G are not sold here.

My Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027. What should I do?

Do not wait for automatic reassignment. Compare what is available in your county for 2027 and check whether you qualify for a guaranteed issue right to buy a Medigap plan. These rights have deadlines.

Are Medicare Advantage plans still available in every Minnesota county for 2027?

No. Several carriers are exiting counties, and some counties have no Medicare Advantage plan for 2027. Your options depend on your ZIP code.

What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?

$2,400 for covered prescription drugs, up from $2,100 in 2026. The standard deductible is $700.

Can you help if I live part of the year in Florida?

Yes. We are licensed in both Minnesota and Florida and help clients who split the year between the two.

Get Local, Independent Medicare Help

VitalShield is an independent agency, not affiliated with any single insurance carrier or health system. Call [phone number] or book a free consultation to compare your options.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 5 organizations which offer 18 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. VitalShield Insurance Services LLC is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

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