Medicare Plans 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, a Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker in all 50 states — Updated October 8, 2026

For 2027 you have three ways to build Medicare coverage: Original Medicare with a Part D drug plan, Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles everything. The average Medicare Advantage premium falls to $12, Part D costs rise to a $700 deductible and $2,400 cap, and many insurers are leaving counties, so 2027 is a year to compare.

CMS released the 2027 numbers on September 28, 2026. About 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans are available and about 34 million people are projected to enroll. Most members can keep their plan at the same or a lower premium, but millions of others are losing plans as UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, HCSC, Wellcare and several Blue plans pull back.

See Medicare Advantage plans 2027, Medicare Supplement plans 2027 and the 2027 Part D plan finder.

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Key Highlights

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For 2027, the national average Medicare Advantage premium is $12 a month, lower than $14.37 (CMS).

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About 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans are available for 2027.

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Part D: deductible up to $700, out-of-pocket cap $2,400.

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The High-Deductible Plan G deductible is $3,050 for 2027.

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Large insurers are leaving counties and cutting PPOs.

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Annual Enrollment: October 15 through December 7, 2026.

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Your Three Coverage Paths for 2027

Path What You Have Best For
Original Medicare + Part D Parts A and B plus a drug plan Lowest premiums, accepting 20% Part B coinsurance with no cap
Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D Parts A and B, a supplement and a drug plan Any-doctor freedom and predictable costs
Medicare Advantage One private plan replacing A and B, usually with drugs Low premiums, extras and a yearly cost cap, within a network
Medicare Advantage Original Medicare + Medigap
Monthly premium Often low or $0 (2027 average $12, CMS) Higher; varies by plan letter, age and ZIP
Doctors Usually a network Any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare
Costs when you get care Copays and coinsurance up to a yearly maximum Predictable and low; on Plan G, little to nothing after the Part B deductible
Drug coverage Usually included Add a separate Part D plan
Dental, vision, hearing Many plans may include some coverage Not included
Changing later Every year during Annual Enrollment In most states, health questions once your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends

The 2027 Numbers That Changed

Item 2026 2027
Average Medicare Advantage premium $14.37 $12 (CMS)
Medicare Advantage plans 5,553 About 5,532
Part D maximum deductible $615 $700
Part D out-of-pocket cap $2,100 $2,400
Average standalone Part D premium $35.09 About $36
High-Deductible Plan G deductible $2,950 $3,050
Part B premium $202.90 Projected about $209.50; official in November

Sources: CMS, September 28, 2026; Medicare Trustees projections for Part B.

Understanding Medicare Health Plans and Coverage Options

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Who Is Leaving or Cutting for 2027

Behind the stable averages, many plans are ending:

$12 a Month

CMS average 2027 Medicare Advantage premium, lower than $14.37 in 2026.

About 34 Million

Projected Medicare Advantage enrollment for 2027 per CMS, about 47% of Medicare.

About 5,532

Total Medicare Advantage plans nationwide for 2027, almost unchanged from 5,553.

8 in 10

Members able to stay in their current plan at an equal or lower premium (CMS).

Beneath calm-looking national numbers, there is plenty of change. Some of the biggest insurers are cutting PPO plans and removing standard plans from counties where they lost money, even as a few smaller companies expand. So even when the national average premium falls, your own plan could change significantly.

Insurer Key 2027 Changes
UnitedHealthcare Now 852 plans (846 before); about 140 counties lose standard plans; exiting Wyoming; 34 PPOs dropped
Humana Down to 861 plans from 887; exiting Minnesota and 57 counties; 37 PPOs eliminated; plans ending for about 600,000 members
Aetna (CVS Health) Plan count rises to 654 from 642; standard plans withdrawn from 123 counties; exits from Maryland and New Hampshire; 20 PPOs dropped; 29 C-SNPs added
HCSC (including HealthSpring) Cut from 948 counties to about 478; exiting CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and D.C.; 48 PPOs eliminated
Centene (Wellcare) Exiting Hawaii, Oklahoma and Tennessee; standard plans removed from 344 counties
Elevance (Anthem) Exited South Carolina; standard plans withdrawn from 56 counties
Devoted Health Expanding into 342 counties; new in CT, MI, NH, NJ and NY

Source: CMS 2027 landscape data reported by Becker’s on October 1, 2026, plus company announcements. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Wellmark are exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027 as well.

Several smaller plans are leaving Medicare Advantage entirely for 2027, including Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Braven Health in New Jersey and WellSense in New Hampshire. Devoted Health is the biggest grower, adding 342 counties.

How Medicare Advantage Works

Medicare Advantage, or Part C, lets you receive your Medicare benefits from a Medicare-approved private insurer. These plans cover all that Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, apart from hospice care, which remains with Original Medicare. Part D drug coverage is included in most plans, and many may also offer extras like routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

The trade-off is that Medicare Advantage plans generally rely on doctor and hospital networks and may call for referrals or prior authorization for certain services. Unlike Original Medicare, every Medicare Advantage plan caps your yearly out-of-pocket costs for covered medical care. Your Part B premium still applies, along with the plan’s own premium if there is one.

Feature HMO PPO
Out-of-network care Not covered except emergencies and urgent care Covered at a higher cost
Referrals for specialists Usually required Usually not required
Premiums Usually lower Usually higher
Out-of-pocket maximum In-network limit In-network limit plus a higher combined limit
Best for Lower costs, local care Flexibility, travel, keeping specific doctors

Benefits 2027 Plans May Offer

Medicare Advantage Plans May Include

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Covers hospital and medical care just as Original Medicare Part A and B do

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Part D prescription drug coverage on most plans

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Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits

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Fitness programs and over-the-counter allowances

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Telehealth visits and care coordination programs

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum on every plan

Benefits differ by plan and county, not every plan offers every benefit, and they may change for 2027. Review the Evidence of Coverage for any plan before enrolling.

Risk Adjustment and Plan Performance

Medicare Supplement Plans for 2027

Plan What You Pay Best For
Plan G The Part B deductible, after which Medicare-approved costs are paid Most complete coverage for new enrollees
Plan N The Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, and copays of up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for certain ER visits Lower premium, accepts small copays
High-Deductible Plan G A yearly deductible, then coverage like Plan G Healthy people who want the lowest premium

Each Medigap plan letter has standardized benefits. Price depends on the insurer, your age, ZIP code and tobacco use.

Plan G

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After the Part B deductible, you pay little or nothing

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Covers Part B excess charges

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Highest premium of the three

Plan N

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You pay the Part B deductible plus small copays

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Does not cover Part B excess charges

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Usually a lower premium than Plan G

High-Deductible G

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In 2027, you pay up to $3,050 before coverage begins

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Then covers like Plan G

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Lowest premium

Part D Drug Plans for 2027

Every Part D plan moves through three stages during the year, and the stage you are in decides what you pay at the pharmacy counter.

The Three Payment Stages

1

Deductible. You pay the full negotiated price until you meet your plan’s deductible, which can be up to $700 in 2027. Many plans charge less or waive it on lower tiers.

2

Initial coverage. You pay a copay or coinsurance set by each drug’s tier, and the plan pays the rest.

3

Catastrophic coverage. Once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,400, covered Part D drugs cost $0 for the rest of 2027.

$700

Maximum 2027 Part D deductible, up from $615.

$2,400

2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap, up from $2,100.

About $36

Average standalone Part D premium for 2027, rising by under $1 (CMS).

$7

Expected average drug portion of a 2027 Medicare Advantage premium, lower than $11.32.

Standalone Part D Plan

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Pairs with Original Medicare, by itself or alongside Medigap

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Average about $36 a month for 2027

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Choose any plan offered in your region

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Medical care stays with Original Medicare

Medicare Advantage With Drugs

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Drug coverage built into your health plan

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Drug portion averages about $7 a month for 2027

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One card and one plan for medical and drugs

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Medical care generally comes through the plan’s network

If Your Plan Is Ending

A non-renewal notice should have reached you in early October if your plan will not be available in your county for 2027. You are not cut off immediately: coverage runs through December 31, 2026, giving you time to make a choice.

If Your Plan Is Ending

1

Review your non-renewal letter. The letter confirms that your plan is ending and lays out your choices.

2

Write down your doctors and drugs. Comparing replacement plans requires this list.

3

Review your 2027 plan options. Look beyond the premium to the network, drug coverage and out-of-pocket maximum.

4

Decide by December 31 to avoid a gap. If you enroll during Annual Enrollment by December 7, your coverage begins January 1, 2027.

5

Rely on a Special Enrollment Period when needed. If your plan is ending, you can generally still choose new coverage until the end of February 2027.

If you do nothing: on January 1, 2027, you go back to Original Medicare, and you will have no drug coverage unless you pick a Part D plan. Being without drug coverage may result in a late enrollment penalty.

Medigap rights: if your Medicare Advantage plan stops serving your area, you generally get a guaranteed issue right, lasting up to 63 days after your coverage ends, to purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions.

How to Choose Your 2027 Coverage

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