Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 8, 2026
Florida has 560 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, down from 611, the largest drop of any state. Medigap and Part D are also available statewide.
Florida still has more choice than most states. SHINE offers free counseling.
611 to 560 MA plans.
Largest drop nationally.
Medigap statewide.
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 |
Florida 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.
Nationally, large insurers are trimming PPOs and pulling plans from some counties for 2027. In Florida, read your Annual Notice of Change, and if you received a non-renewal letter, choose a new plan before 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.
611 to 560
Florida MA plans.
Guaranteed issue: if your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally can buy certain Medicare Supplement plans without health questions, until 63 days after your coverage ends.
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.
Floridians keeping Original Medicare should add a standalone Part D plan. Check how each plan handles your specific prescriptions and pharmacies with the 2027 Part D plan finder.
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.
Florida’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), 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.
The Bottom Line
Florida offers Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D choices for 2027. Compare plans in your county and enroll during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Florida has 560 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, down from 611 in 2026, the largest drop of any state. You will see far fewer at your own ZIP code, because plans are approved and sold county by county.
Coverage continues through December 31, 2026, and you will receive a non-renewal notice. With Florida losing 51 plans for 2027, more members than usual will be choosing new coverage during Annual Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period. You generally also have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans, usually within 63 days after coverage ends.
Florida residents can change plans from October 15 to December 7, 2026, with new coverage starting January 1, 2027. Those already in Medicare Advantage may make one more change from January 1 to March 31, 2027. SHINE, Florida’s free Medicare counseling program, can help you compare options.
Insurers are trimming plans nationally for 2027, and Florida saw the biggest drop of any state with 51 fewer plans. Large carriers such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna are all cutting PPOs and exiting some counties. Read your Annual Notice of Change to see how your own plan is affected.
Yes. Florida residents can buy standardized Medigap plans such as Plan G or Plan N to pair with Original Medicare. The best time is your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, when insurers cannot use your health to deny coverage or raise your price.
Nationally, the average standalone Part D premium is about $36 for 2027, and low-premium options are widely available. Florida premiums vary by plan, so compare using your own drug list. The 2027 Part D deductible is $700 and out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,400.
SHINE is Florida’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program and offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Counselors can help you compare 2027 Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D options and understand your rights if your plan is ending. They do not sell insurance.
Florida plans may include dental, vision, hearing, over-the-counter or fitness benefits, depending on the plan and area. Not all plans offer all benefits, and with industry-wide cuts some extras may shrink for 2027. Compare the Summary of Benefits rather than assuming last year’s perks carry over.
It depends on your priorities. Medicare Advantage bundles coverage with a network and an out-of-pocket maximum, while Original Medicare with Medigap generally offers broader provider choice and more predictable costs for a higher premium. Since Medigap usually requires health questions outside open enrollment, think carefully before leaving Medigap for a network plan.
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.