Before you choose a 2027 plan
Do not compare Medicare plans by premium alone. Your doctors, prescriptions, pharmacy, travel habits, expected medical care and the plan’s yearly out-of-pocket limit can matter far more than a $0 or low monthly premium.
Medicare gets confusing for a simple reason: people use the word “Medicare” to describe several different kinds of coverage.
One person may have Original Medicare with a separate Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy. Another may have a Medicare Advantage plan that combines hospital, medical and prescription drug coverage in one plan. Both can say, correctly, that they “have Medicare.”
That is why choosing coverage starts with understanding which route you are taking, not with looking for the plan with the biggest dental allowance or the lowest advertised premium.
For 2027, that decision deserves a fresh look even if you are happy with your current coverage. Benefits, drug formularies, provider networks and costs can change from one year to the next.
2027 Medicare Open Enrollment
October 15, 2026 through December 7, 2026. Changes made during this period generally take effect January 1, 2027.
What Is Medicare?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program primarily for people age 65 and older, along with certain younger people who qualify because of disability or specific medical conditions.
It is divided into parts:
Hospital insurance. It helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice and some home health care.
Medical insurance. It helps cover doctor visits, outpatient services, preventive care, durable medical equipment and other medical services.
Medicare Advantage. Private insurers approved by Medicare provide your Part A and Part B benefits, usually with additional benefits.
Prescription drug coverage. It can be purchased separately with Original Medicare or included in many Medicare Advantage plans.
Most of the shopping decisions come down to two paths: stay with Original Medicare and add other coverage separately, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage
This is the comparison that matters most during Open Enrollment.
Original Medicare is managed by the federal government. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare.
| Feature | Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides coverage? | Federal Medicare program | Private Medicare-approved insurer |
| Doctors | Generally any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare | Often uses HMO or PPO networks |
| Prescription drugs | Usually add a separate Part D plan | Often included in the plan |
| Extra benefits | Limited under Original Medicare itself | Many plans offer dental, vision, hearing or other supplemental benefits |
| Annual out-of-pocket limit | Original Medicare itself does not have the same annual cap for Part A/B cost sharing | Medicare Advantage plans have an annual limit for covered Part A/B services |
| Medigap | Can generally be paired with Original Medicare | Cannot be used to pay Medicare Advantage cost sharing |
Neither route is automatically better.
Original Medicare can appeal to people who want broad provider flexibility, especially people who travel frequently within the United States. Medicare Advantage can appeal to people who prefer one plan combining medical and drug coverage and who are comfortable using a plan network.
The real comparison
Do not ask only, “Which option has more benefits?” Ask whether your doctors are in network, your prescriptions are covered, your preferred pharmacy is affordable and how much you could pay in a bad health year.
Medicare Advantage Plans in 2027
CMS expects Medicare Advantage to remain widely available in 2027.
More than 99% of Medicare beneficiaries are expected to have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan, and 97% are expected to have access to at least 10 choices.
The projected weighted average monthly Medicare Advantage premium is $12 in 2027, down from $14.37 in 2026. CMS says approximately eight in 10 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are expected to be able to remain in their current plan with the same or a lower premium.
$12
Projected weighted average monthly MA premium for 2027.
99%+
Beneficiaries expected to have access to at least one MA plan.
97%
Expected to have 10 or more Medicare Advantage choices.
Those national figures are useful, but they do not tell you what is available in your ZIP code. Medicare Advantage is a local market. Premiums, networks and benefits can vary from county to county.
A $0 Medicare Advantage Premium Does Not Mean $0 Healthcare
This is probably the most important point for somebody comparing Medicare Advantage plans.
Some plans charge a $0 additional monthly premium. That does not remove the costs of Medicare Part B, and it does not mean every doctor visit, hospital stay or prescription will be free.
You may still have copays, coinsurance, deductibles and other plan cost sharing.
Do not stop at the premium
For a Medicare Advantage plan, check the specialist copay, hospital cost sharing, drug costs and annual out-of-pocket maximum. A plan with a $0 premium can still be expensive if you need a lot of care.
Medicare Part D in 2027
Prescription drug coverage deserves its own comparison, particularly if you take several medications.
CMS projects the average monthly premium for a stand-alone Part D plan to be about $36 in 2027, compared with $35.09 in 2026.
For Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage, CMS projects the average Part D portion of the premium to fall from $11.32 in 2026 to about $7 in 2027.
But the average premium is not the most important number if you take expensive medication.
You need to check:
- Whether each regular medication is on the plan’s formulary.
- Which drug tier each medication is on.
- Whether prior authorization or step therapy applies.
- Which pharmacies are preferred by the plan.
- Your estimated total yearly drug cost, not just the monthly premium.
Medicare says negotiated prices for another 15 selected Part D drugs take effect January 1, 2027. How much an individual beneficiary saves will still depend on the specific drug, plan and coverage situation.
What Does Original Medicare Cost?
As of October 3, 2026, the final 2027 Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles have not yet been published by CMS, so this article does not treat estimates as final numbers.
For context, the standard Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 per month, and the annual Part B deductible is $283. The Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026.
Many people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough while working.
Why this article does not guess the 2027 Part B premium
The official Part A and Part B costs are set separately from the Medicare Advantage and Part D plan landscape. Once CMS publishes the final 2027 amounts, this section should be updated with the official figures.
Medigap: Where It Fits
A Medicare Supplement policy, commonly called Medigap, is private insurance designed to help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare.
Medigap is not the same thing as Medicare Advantage.
If you choose Original Medicare, you may consider Medigap alongside a separate Part D plan. If you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, a Medigap policy does not pay the Medicare Advantage plan’s deductibles and copays.
Medigap rules, pricing and available plans deserve their own article because enrollment timing can affect your options in important ways.
How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans Properly
It is easy to get distracted by dental benefits, grocery cards, fitness programs and other extras.
Those benefits can be useful, but they should come after the basics.
- Check your doctors and hospitals. Confirm the providers you want are in the 2027 network.
- Enter every prescription. Use Medicare Plan Finder to compare estimated yearly drug costs.
- Check the pharmacy. Preferred pharmacy pricing can make a noticeable difference.
- Look at specialist and hospital costs. Those numbers matter much more if you regularly use care.
- Find the out-of-pocket maximum. Think about the bad-health-year number, not only the good-health-year premium.
- Review prior authorization rules. Some services may require plan approval before they are covered.
- Then compare extra benefits. Dental, vision and hearing are useful only after the core coverage works for you.
Medicare Star Ratings: Useful, but Not the Whole Decision
CMS uses a five-star rating system to help beneficiaries compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plan quality.
The ratings consider measures related to health outcomes, patient experience, access and other aspects of plan performance.
A higher-rated plan can be a useful signal, but it should not override the practical details. A five-star plan is not particularly helpful to you if your specialist is out of network or one of your essential prescriptions is poorly covered.
Use the rating as one part of the decision, alongside cost, provider access and drug coverage.
What Can You Change During Medicare Open Enrollment?
From October 15 through December 7, people with Medicare can generally:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop or switch a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan when eligible.
Changes made during this Annual Open Enrollment period generally begin January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Is Different
There is another enrollment period from January 1 through March 31, but it works differently.
It is for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
During that period, an eligible beneficiary can generally switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and join a separate drug plan.
This is not simply a second full Open Enrollment for everybody, so do not assume you can postpone every decision until March.
Turning 65? Your Initial Enrollment Period Matters
If you are new to Medicare, your enrollment timeline is different from the fall Open Enrollment period used by existing beneficiaries.
Your Initial Enrollment Period generally surrounds the month you turn 65. Medicare explains that Part B coverage can start based on when you enroll relative to your birthday month.
If you or a spouse are still working and you have qualifying employer coverage, different Special Enrollment Period rules may apply.
Late enrollment can lead to gaps in coverage and, in some situations, lasting penalties. This is one area where it is worth checking your exact dates rather than relying on a friend’s experience.
Common Medicare Shopping Mistakes
Choosing by TV advertisement
Advertising can introduce you to a plan, but it cannot know which doctors you use or which prescriptions you take. Always verify the exact plan through Medicare Plan Finder or official plan documents.
Assuming your doctor is still in network
A provider who was in network this year may not necessarily be in network next year. Networks can change, so check 2027 information rather than relying on last year’s card.
Ignoring the drug list
A plan can look inexpensive until one regular medication lands on a costly tier or is not covered the way you expected.
Looking only at extra benefits
Dental, vision, hearing and fitness benefits can be useful. They should not distract you from hospital costs, specialist copays, provider networks and prescription coverage.
Forgetting to read the Annual Notice of Change
If you already have Medicare Advantage or Part D, review the notice your plan sends explaining changes for the new year. That is often where you discover a premium, copay, network or benefit change before it becomes a surprise in January.
A Simple 2027 Medicare Review
If your current plan still works
Confirm your doctors, medications and 2027 costs. If everything still fits, keeping the plan may be perfectly reasonable.
If something changed
Compare alternatives using the same prescriptions, doctors and expected care. Do not switch only because another plan advertises a lower premium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare 2027
When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027?
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Coverage changes generally take effect January 1, 2027.
What is the average Medicare Advantage premium in 2027?
CMS projects the weighted average monthly premium across Medicare Advantage plans at about $12 in 2027, down from $14.37 in 2026. Individual plan premiums vary by location and plan.
How much will Medicare Part D cost in 2027?
CMS projects the average monthly premium for stand-alone Part D plans at about $36 in 2027. The actual plan premium and your total prescription costs depend on the plan and medications you use.
Is Medicare Advantage better than Original Medicare?
Neither is universally better. Original Medicare generally offers broad provider access, while Medicare Advantage can combine medical and drug coverage and may include additional benefits. Your doctors, drugs, travel needs and expected costs should drive the comparison.
Can I have Medigap with Medicare Advantage?
Medigap is designed to supplement Original Medicare and cannot be used to pay Medicare Advantage plan cost sharing.
Are $0-premium Medicare Advantage plans free?
No. A $0 additional plan premium does not eliminate the Part B premium or other costs such as copays, coinsurance and deductibles. Check the plan’s total cost structure.
How do I compare Medicare plans in my ZIP code?
Use the official Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code and, ideally, your prescriptions and preferred pharmacies to compare available 2027 plans and estimated costs.
Do I have to change Medicare plans every year?
No. If your current plan continues to meet your needs and remains available, you can generally keep it. But you should still review the new year’s costs, benefits, drug list and network because they can change.
What is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?
From January 1 through March 31, people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can generally switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, with the option to join a separate Part D plan.
Are the 2027 Part A and Part B premiums final yet?
As of October 3, 2026, CMS has not yet published the final 2027 Part A and Part B premium and deductible amounts. Use official Medicare or CMS sources when those figures are released.
The Bottom Line
Medicare shopping becomes easier when you stop trying to find the plan with the most impressive list of benefits and start with the healthcare you actually use.
Write down your doctors. List every prescription. Think about how often you see specialists and whether you travel frequently. Then compare what each option would realistically cost you over a year.
For 2027, Medicare Advantage premiums are projected to remain relatively low on average, and most beneficiaries will have a large number of plans available. That is good for choice, but more choices also mean more chances to pick a plan that looks good on the surface and fits poorly underneath.
Use the fall Open Enrollment period to check your coverage carefully. If the plan you already have still works, there is no prize for switching. If it no longer fits, compare the alternatives using the details that actually affect your care.
Continue the Insurance Guide
Read our guides to Car Insurance in the USA, Health Insurance Plans and Life Insurance in the USA.
Sources & Further Reading
- CMS — Medicare Advantage and Part D Outlook for 2027
- Medicare.gov — 2027 Plan Finder
- Medicare.gov — Joining and Switching Medicare Plans
- CMS — 2027 Medicare Part D Premium Information
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Costs
- CMS — Medicare Part C and Part D Performance Data
This article is for general educational purposes and does not recommend a specific Medicare plan. Medicare Advantage and Part D availability, premiums, provider networks, formularies and benefits vary by location and plan. Verify current details with Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE or the plan before enrolling.