Medicare Advantage Plans 2027

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.

When you join, Medicare pays the plan a set amount each month to cover your care, and the plan handles your claims. You use the plan’s card instead of your red, white and blue Medicare card for most care, though you should keep your Medicare card.

Your real yearly cost depends on how much care you use. Compare two scenarios for each plan: a light year with a few doctor visits, and a heavy year where you reach the out-of-pocket maximum. A plan with a small premium and a lower maximum is often safer than a $0 premium plan with a high maximum, especially if you have ongoing health needs.

You can join a Medicare Advantage plan if you have Medicare Part A and Part B and live in the plan’s service area. People with end-stage renal disease can also join. You can only be in one Medicare Advantage plan at a time, and a Medigap policy will not pay anything while you are in Medicare Advantage.

Networks, referrals and prior authorization

HMO plans generally cover care only from in-network providers, except emergencies, urgent care and out-of-area dialysis. PPOs cover out-of-network care at a higher cost. Most plans also require prior authorization for some services, such as certain surgeries, imaging or skilled nursing stays. Ask how a plan handles the care you expect to need.

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.

If your Medicare Advantage plan includes drug coverage, you cannot also have a separate Part D plan. If you choose a plan without drug coverage, you generally cannot add a standalone Part D plan, except with certain plan types such as PFFS.

The 2027 numbers from CMS show a stable national picture:

The national numbers look calm, but they hide a lot of movement underneath. Several of the largest insurers are trimming PPO plans and pulling standard plans out of counties where they lost money, while a few smaller companies are growing. That means your own plan can change a great deal even in a year when the national average premium goes down.

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.

Use the Medicare Advantage plan finder to compare plans in your ZIP code.

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.

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.

If your income and savings are limited, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply:

If you qualify for both Medicare and full Medicaid, you may also be able to join a Dual Special Needs Plan. See help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

You do not have to compare plans alone, and you should not have to pay for help. These are the free options:

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.