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.

CMS released the 2027 Medicare Advantage landscape on September 28, 2026. The headline numbers are steady:

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.

PPOs are where the biggest 2027 cuts are happening. UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna and HCSC together are cutting more than 130 PPO plans, while Special Needs Plans are growing. If you are in a PPO, check carefully whether your plan continues.

A $0 premium plan is not a free plan. What you pay over a year depends on how much care you use. Someone who rarely sees a doctor may pay very little, while someone with a hospital stay or regular specialist visits could pay up to the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum. Compare the maximum, not just the premium, especially if you have ongoing health needs.

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.

Also see compare Medicare Advantage plans 2027.

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 if you have a Medigap policy, it will not pay anything while you are in Medicare Advantage.

Networks, referrals and prior authorization

Networks are the biggest practical difference between plans. HMO plans generally cover care only from in-network providers, except emergencies, urgent care and out-of-area dialysis, and often require a referral from your primary care doctor to see a specialist. PPO plans let you see out-of-network providers at a higher cost.

Most Medicare Advantage plans also use prior authorization, meaning the plan must approve certain services, such as some surgeries, imaging or skilled nursing stays, before they are covered. Ask how a plan handles prior authorization for the care you expect to need, and confirm your doctors and hospitals are in network for 2027, not just 2026.

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.

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 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.