Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 8, 2026
The top Illinois Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 is the one that keeps your doctors and drugs at the lowest total cost, and Illinois has 136 plans this year, down from 157.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois shrinks from 100 counties to 7. Illinois SHIP offers free counseling.
✔ Licensed in all 50 states
✔ Based on CMS 2027 data
✔ Free plan comparison
136 plans.
BCBSIL: 100 to 7 counties.
Rank by doctors, drugs and cost.
The national average 2027 Medicare Advantage premium is $12 a month, down from $14.37 (CMS).
Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Key Takeaway
Your county decides which Medicare Advantage plans you can choose. Medigap and Part D plans are available statewide.
| 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 |
Illinois Plans May Include
Hospital and medical coverage, the same as Original Medicare Part A and B
Part D prescription drug coverage on most plans
Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits
Fitness programs and over-the-counter allowances
Telehealth visits and care coordination programs
A yearly out-of-pocket maximum on every plan
Not all plans offer all benefits. Benefits vary by plan and county and can change for 2027. Check each plan’s Evidence of Coverage before you enroll.
Across the country, big carriers are scaling back PPOs and exiting certain counties for 2027. Illinois enrollees should go over their Annual Notice of Change, and anyone who got a non-renewal letter should select a different plan by December 31, 2026.
| Insurer | Key 2027 Changes |
|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | 852 plans (up from 846); standard plans pulled from about 140 counties; leaving Wyoming; 34 PPOs cut |
| Humana | 861 plans (down from 887); leaving 57 counties and Minnesota; 37 PPOs cut; about 600,000 members’ plans ending |
| Aetna (CVS Health) | 654 plans (up from 642); standard plans pulled from 123 counties; leaving Maryland and New Hampshire; 20 PPOs cut; 29 C-SNPs added |
| HCSC (including HealthSpring) | From 948 counties to about 478; leaving CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and D.C.; 48 PPOs cut |
| Centene (Wellcare) | Standard plans pulled from 344 counties; leaving Hawaii, Oklahoma and Tennessee |
| Elevance (Anthem) | Standard plans pulled from 56 counties; leaving South Carolina |
| Devoted Health | Adding 342 counties; entering CT, MI, NH, NJ and NY |
Source: CMS 2027 landscape data as reported by Becker’s, October 1, 2026, and company announcements. Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi are also exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027.
157 to 136
Illinois MA plans.
$7.11
Average premium.
100 to 7
BCBSIL MA counties.
Ranking Criteria
Network.
Drugs.
Total cost.
Star rating.
Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a way to get your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. The plan covers everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, except hospice care, which Original Medicare still pays. Most plans also include Part D drug coverage, and many may add extras such as routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.
In exchange, Medicare Advantage plans generally use networks of doctors and hospitals, and may require referrals or prior authorization for some services. Every Medicare Advantage plan has a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, which Original Medicare does not have. You keep paying your Part B premium, plus your plan’s premium if it has one.
Advantages
Often a low or $0 premium
A yearly out-of-pocket maximum
Drug coverage usually included
Many plans may include dental, vision and hearing benefits
One card and one plan
Tradeoffs
Networks; HMOs require in-network care except emergencies
Prior authorization and referrals are common
Copays add up if you use a lot of care
Plans and networks can change every year
Switching to Medigap later may require health questions
If you prefer Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan pays some or all of what Medicare leaves behind, and lets you see any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. Benefits are standardized by plan letter, so compare prices for the same letter across insurers.
| Plan | What You Pay | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Plan G | The Part B deductible; after that, Medicare-approved costs are covered | Most complete coverage for new enrollees |
| Plan N | Part B deductible, copays up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for some ER visits, and Part B excess charges | Lower premium, accepts small copays |
| High-Deductible Plan G | A yearly deductible, then coverage like Plan G | Healthy people who want the lowest premium |
Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter. Prices vary by insurer, age, ZIP code and tobacco use.
Watch for: outside your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue right, most states let insurers ask health questions and decline you or charge more.
$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 2027 standalone Part D premium, up less than $1 (CMS).
$7
Projected average drug portion of a Medicare Advantage premium for 2027, down from $11.32.
Staying with Original Medicare in Illinois? Pair it with a separate Part D plan, then use the 2027 Part D plan finder to check options against the precise medications and pharmacies you rely on.
If your plan will not be offered in your county for 2027, you should have received a non-renewal notice in early October. Your coverage does not stop right away: it continues through December 31, 2026, so you have time to choose.
If Your Plan Is Ending
Read the non-renewal letter. It confirms your plan is ending and explains your options.
List your doctors and drugs. You will need them to compare replacement plans.
Compare plans for 2027. Check networks, drug coverage and the out-of-pocket maximum, not just the premium.
Choose by December 31 for no gap. Enrolling during Annual Enrollment by December 7 gives you coverage on January 1, 2027.
Use your Special Enrollment Period if needed. People whose plans end generally can still make a choice through the end of February 2027.
If you do nothing: you return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, without drug coverage unless you choose a Part D plan. Going without drug coverage can lead to a late enrollment penalty.
Medigap rights: when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medicare Supplement plans without health questions, up to 63 days after your coverage ends.
How to Compare
Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists every change to your current plan for 2027.
Check your doctors and hospitals. Confirm each provider is in the 2027 network, not just the 2026 one.
Check your prescriptions. Confirm each drug, its tier and any prior authorization or step therapy rules.
Compare total yearly cost. Add the premium, typical copays and drug costs, and look at the out-of-pocket maximum.
Check star ratings. Medicare rates plans from 1 to 5 stars on quality and service.
Enroll by December 7. Your new coverage starts January 1, 2027.
| Enrollment Period | Dates | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Period | October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for January 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 to March 31, 2027 | If you are in Medicare Advantage, switch to another plan or return to Original Medicare once |
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months around your 65th birthday month | Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | Change plans after events like moving, losing other coverage or your plan leaving your area |
Most people make changes during Annual Enrollment. If you are happy with your current plan, you do not have to do anything; it renews automatically. Still, read your Annual Notice of Change, because premiums, copays, networks and drug lists can all change on January 1.
Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans built for specific groups. Benefits, networks and drug lists are designed around the members they serve, and many include care coordinators. For 2027, Special Needs Plans are one of the few areas where large insurers are adding plans, even as they cut PPOs.
| Type | Who Qualifies | What Is Different |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) | People with both Medicare and Medicaid | Coordinates both programs; often very low costs and added benefits |
| Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) | People with qualifying conditions such as diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease | Doctors, drugs and programs built around the condition |
| Institutional SNP (I-SNP) | People living in a nursing home or who need that level of care at home | Care delivered where the member lives |
If you turn 65 in 2027, your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before your birthday month, your birthday month and the three months after. Signing up during the first three months means your coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.
Turning 65 Checklist
Sign up for Part A and Part B, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and choose to delay Part B
Decide between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with Medigap
Join a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan with drugs, to avoid a Part D late penalty
If you choose Medigap, buy during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period
If your income and savings are limited, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply:
Medicare Savings Programs
Run by your state Medicaid office
Can pay your Part B premium, and sometimes deductibles and coinsurance
Income and asset limits vary by state
Extra Help (Part D)
Run by Social Security
Lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays
People in a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically
Those who are eligible for Medicare along with full Medicaid might also have the option of enrolling in a Dual Special Needs Plan. Learn more about help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.
Illinois’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE any time or compare plans with a licensed agent at no cost.
Free Help Comparing Plans
Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, available any time
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, unbiased counseling
A licensed insurance agent or broker, who can compare plans from several insurers at no cost to you
Before any call, have your Medicare card, your list of drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies ready. It turns a long conversation into a short one.
Check Every Line
Your 2027 premium and deductible
Copays for doctors, specialists and hospital stays
The out-of-pocket maximum
Updates to your formulary, drug tiers and coverage requirements
Whether your doctors, hospitals and pharmacy are still in network
Changes to dental, vision, hearing and other extras
Plans must send the Annual Notice of Change by September 30. It is the single most useful document you get each fall, because it tells you exactly how your plan changes on January 1.
Outside the fall and early-year windows, you generally need a Special Enrollment Period to change plans. Common reasons include:
You May Qualify If
Your plan is leaving your area or ending
You move outside your plan’s service area
You lose employer or union coverage
You qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program, or your Medicaid status changes
You want to join a 5-star plan, once a year
Each Special Enrollment Period has its own time limit, so act as soon as the event happens.
Most Medicare Advantage plans require prior authorization for some services, such as certain surgeries, advanced imaging, skilled nursing stays and some drugs. Your doctor usually requests it, but ask whether a planned service needs approval so a denial does not surprise you.
If a request is denied, you or your doctor can appeal. Medicare rules set deadlines for plans to decide, with faster deadlines when waiting could seriously harm your health.
Every Medicare Advantage plan covers emergency care and urgent care anywhere in the U.S., in or out of network, and you do not need prior approval for an emergency. Routine care away from home is a different story: HMOs generally do not cover it, while PPOs cover out-of-network care at a higher cost.
If you spend months away from home each year, ask each plan how it handles care in your second location. It is one of the most common reasons people switch plans mid-year.
If your plan denies a service, a drug or payment for care, you have the right to appeal. The plan’s denial notice explains how. There are several levels of appeal, starting with the plan and moving to independent reviewers.
For problems that are not about coverage, such as customer service or wait times, you can file a grievance with the plan. You can also contact 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for help.
The Part B premium is the one big number not released with the plans. CMS normally announces it in November. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects a 2027 standard premium of about $209.50 a month and a deductible of about $292, up from $202.90 and $283 in 2026. You keep paying it with Medicare Advantage.
If you miss the Annual Enrollment deadline, your current plan renews automatically for 2027, with the changes in your Annual Notice of Change. If you are in Medicare Advantage, you get one more chance from January 1 to March 31, 2027, to switch Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan.
Many Medicare Advantage plans may cover telehealth visits for some services, sometimes at a lower copay than an office visit. Telehealth is convenient for follow-ups and minor issues, but it does not replace confirming that your regular doctors are in network.
Medicare rates every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan from 1 to 5 stars each fall, based on things like preventive care, how well the plan manages chronic conditions, member complaints, customer service and drug pricing accuracy. The ratings are shown in Medicare Plan Finder.
Using Star Ratings
A rating of 4 stars or higher is generally a good sign of quality and service
Five-star plans have a special enrollment period, so you can switch into one once during the year
New plans may not have a rating yet, which is not a bad sign by itself
Ratings measure the plan overall, not how well it covers your specific doctors and drugs
Sometimes a drug you take is not on a plan’s 2027 formulary, or it carries a rule like prior authorization. You still have options:
If Your Drug Is Not Covered
Ask for a transition fill. In the first 90 days of a new plan year or a new plan, plans generally must give you a temporary supply of a drug you were already taking, so you have time to switch or request an exception.
Ask your doctor about alternatives. A covered drug in the same class may work as well and cost less.
Request a formulary or tiering exception. Your doctor submits a statement explaining why you need the drug or a lower copay. Plans must decide within set time limits.
Appeal a denial. If the plan says no, you can appeal, and there are several levels of review.
Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It happens only once and cannot be restarted. During it, insurers must sell you any Medigap plan they offer in your state, at the same price as people in good health.
If you keep working past 65 with employer coverage and delay Part B, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period waits until you enroll in Part B. Enrolling in Part B early, when you do not need it, starts the clock and can waste this protection.
Step by Step
Check whether you have a guaranteed issue right. For example, your plan is ending or you are within your first year of Medicare Advantage.
If not, check your state’s rules. Some states give extra rights; most allow health questions.
Apply for Medigap before you leave Medicare Advantage. Make sure you are approved first.
Join a Part D plan. Medigap does not cover drugs.
Leave Medicare Advantage at the right time. During Annual Enrollment or the January to March window.
If you have coverage from a current employer, you may not need Medigap yet, and delaying Part B can preserve your Medigap Open Enrollment Period for later. Retiree coverage is different: it may work like a supplement, so compare it with Medigap before dropping it, because you may not be able to get retiree coverage back.
When employer or union coverage that pays after Medicare ends, you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans.
If you buy Medigap during your open enrollment period or with a guaranteed issue right, you generally cannot be denied or charged more for health conditions. However, if you did not have creditable coverage before, an insurer may impose a waiting period of up to six months before covering costs for a pre-existing condition. Prior creditable coverage reduces or removes that waiting period.
If you replace one Medigap policy with another, you generally get 30 days to decide whether to keep the new policy. Pay the premiums for both during that time, and do not cancel your old policy until you are sure about the new one.
Check Each Quote For
Plan letter, so you compare like with like
Monthly premium and any first-year or enrollment discount
Pricing method: community, issue-age or attained-age
Household or payment discounts applied
Effective date and any application conditions
If a quote includes an introductory discount, ask what the premium becomes after it ends.
Avoid These
Missing your open enrollment period. Later, health questions may apply.
Choosing on today’s price alone. Pricing method and rate history matter.
Forgetting Part D. The late penalty is permanent.
Dropping Medigap for Medicare Advantage without a plan to return. Getting back may require health questions.
Canceling a policy before a new one is approved. You could be left without coverage.
If you have full Medicaid, you generally do not need Medigap, and insurers generally cannot sell you a policy that duplicates Medicaid benefits. If you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, it may pay your Part B premium and, in some cases, deductibles and coinsurance; check whether a Medigap policy still adds value for you.
The Bottom Line
For 2027, residents of Illinois can choose among Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D options. Review what is offered in your county, then enroll in the Annual Enrollment window, which runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Illinois has 136 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, down from 157 in 2026, according to CMS data. That drop of 21 plans means some people will see their current option disappear or change, so check the Annual Notice of Change your plan mails this fall before assuming you can simply stay put.
Your coverage keeps running through December 31, 2026, and the plan must send you a written non-renewal notice. That notice opens a Special Enrollment Period for picking a replacement, and you generally also gain a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap policies, usually within 63 days after the old coverage ends.
The main window is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice you make takes effect January 1, 2027. People already enrolled in Medicare Advantage get one more chance from January 1 to March 31, 2027, when a single plan switch or a move back to Original Medicare is allowed.
No single plan is best for everyone in Illinois. The right choice depends on whether your doctors are in network, how your prescriptions are covered, the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum and its star rating, so rank plans available in your county on those points rather than on premium alone.
Yes. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, part of HCSC, is shrinking its Medicare Advantage footprint from 100 Illinois counties to 7 for 2027. Members in the affected counties should read their Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter and compare replacement plans during enrollment.
The average Illinois Medicare Advantage premium for 2027 is $7.11 a month, per CMS data. You still pay your Part B premium on top of that, and many plans charge more or less than the average, so check the specific premium for each plan in your county.
Often, yes. Plan availability is set county by county, so the Chicago area and downstate counties can have very different lineups and networks. Confirm which plans serve your ZIP code and whether your local hospital and doctors participate before you rank any plan.
Start with the plans offered in your county, then check that your doctors and pharmacy are in network and your drugs are on the formulary. Next compare the out-of-pocket maximum, copays and premium, and treat extras such as dental or vision as plan-specific, since not all plans offer all benefits.
Illinois offers free, unbiased counseling through its Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). Trained counselors can walk you through plan comparisons, the Blue Cross county cuts and your enrollment rights without selling you a policy, and they can help whether you live in Chicago or downstate.
ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company
Russell Noga is the CEO of ZRN Health & Financial Services, and head content editor of several Medicare insurance online publications. He has over 18 years of experience as a licensed Medicare insurance broker helping Medicare beneficiaries learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.