Posted on August 25th, 2026

If you have Medicare Advantage or a Part D prescription drug plan, 2027 is a year you will want to pay attention to.

Every fall, Medicare beneficiaries receive important information about changes coming to their coverage for the following year. For 2027, there are several changes that could affect your premiums, prescription drug costs, plan benefits, and even the availability of certain Medicare Advantage plans.

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 through December 7, but one of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting until the last few weeks of AEP to review your options.

In fact, with new guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing enrollment capacity limits, acting earlier may become even more important.

What Is Changing for Medicare in 2027?

Here are some of the most important things Medicare beneficiaries should know as we head into 2027.

1. Your Medicare Advantage plan may not look the same in 2027

Medicare Advantage companies can change their plans from year to year. Changes may include:

• Monthly premiums

• Copays and coinsurance

• Maximum out-of-pocket amounts

• Prescription drug coverage

• Provider networks

• Dental, vision, and hearing benefits

• Over-the-counter benefits

• Transportation benefits

• Fitness benefits

• Other supplemental benefits

Some plans may also leave certain service areas or discontinue altogether.

That means having the same Medicare Advantage plan today does not necessarily mean you will have the same coverage next year.

This is why reviewing your plan every year is so important.

2. Watch for your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)

If you currently have a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan, your insurance company should send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) before the Annual Enrollment Period.

Your ANOC explains the changes coming to your plan for the upcoming year.

When you receive it, don't simply look at the premium and assume everything is the same.

Pay particular attention to:

• Your monthly premium

• Your medical copays

• Your prescription drug costs

• Your drug formulary

• Your doctors and hospitals

• Your maximum out-of-pocket amount

• Your dental, vision, and hearing benefits

• Changes to supplemental benefits

• Any changes to the plan's service area

A plan that was an excellent choice for you this year may not be the best choice for you in 2027.

3. Medicare Part D costs are changing

Prescription drug coverage continues to change as provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act are implemented.

For 2027, the maximum Part D deductible increases to $700, and the annual out-of-pocket threshold for covered Part D prescription drugs increases to $2,400. Your actual deductible and drug costs will depend on the specific plan you choose and the medications you take.

There are also changes to the federal premium stabilization program for Part D, which could result in some beneficiaries seeing higher premiums in 2027.

This makes it especially important to review your prescription coverage rather than automatically renewing your current plan.

4. Medicare Advantage plan availability may change

One of the biggest things Medicare beneficiaries need to understand is that Medicare Advantage plans are not guaranteed to remain available indefinitely.

Insurance companies evaluate their Medicare Advantage offerings every year. They may change benefits, modify service areas, discontinue plans, or make other changes.

CMS has also issued updated 2027 guidance addressing enrollment capacity limits for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.

What Are Medicare Advantage Enrollment Capacity Limits?

This is an important issue that many Medicare beneficiaries may not be aware of.

Medicare Advantage organizations may establish enrollment capacity limitations for certain plans. In simple terms, a plan can have a limit on how many members it is able or willing to accept.

Think of it like a restaurant with a limited number of tables.

Even if the restaurant is open, there may come a point when there are no more tables available.

The same basic concept can apply to enrollment capacity.

A plan may be available at the beginning of the Annual Enrollment Period, but that does not necessarily mean you should assume enrollment will remain unlimited throughout the entire enrollment period.

CMS's updated 2027 enrollment guidance specifically includes revisions concerning enrollment capacity limits.

Why does this matter to you?

This is one reason I encourage my clients to start reviewing their Medicare options early in AEP rather than waiting until the last minute.

If a plan has an enrollment capacity limitation and reaches that limit, there could potentially be fewer options available to someone who waits.

That doesn't mean every Medicare Advantage plan will fill up or that every plan has a limited number of spots.

It means you should not assume that waiting until December 7 is the best strategy.

The earlier you review your options, the more time you have to:

• Compare plans

• Check your doctors

• Review prescription coverage

• Compare pharmacies

• Look at copays and maximum out-of-pocket costs

• Evaluate dental, vision, and hearing benefits

• Make sure your preferred hospitals are included

• Complete an enrollment before the AEP deadline

5. Medicare Advantage plans are receiving significant payment changes for 2027

CMS's 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement projects a 2.48% average increase in payments to Medicare Advantage plans, or more than $13 billion in additional payments to plans in 2027.

However, this does not mean every Medicare Advantage plan will have lower premiums or richer benefits.

Insurance companies make their own decisions about how they structure their plans, including premiums, cost-sharing, provider networks, and supplemental benefits.

That is another reason why comparing your specific options is so important.

6. Some plans may change or disappear

Every year, Medicare beneficiaries should be prepared for changes in the Medicare Advantage marketplace.

A plan can be discontinued, modified, or replaced with another plan.

In some cases, an insurance company may also reduce its presence in certain areas.

If your plan is not being offered for the upcoming year, you should receive a notice explaining your options and the steps you need to take.

Don't ignore these notices.

They can be some of the most important pieces of mail you receive during the fall.

Don't Wait Until December

One of the most important recommendations I can give my Medicare clients for 2027 is simple:

Don't wait until the end of AEP to review your Medicare coverage.

The Annual Enrollment Period runs from:

October 15 – December 7

You have the entire enrollment period to make a change, but there is little advantage to waiting until the last few days.

As we get closer to the end of AEP, agents, carriers, and Medicare's enrollment systems can become extremely busy.

And with CMS providing updated guidance regarding enrollment capacity limits, I believe it is more important than ever to review your options early.

If you find a plan that fits your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and healthcare needs, there is no reason to wait until December to make your decision.

What Should You Do Now?

If you are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage or a Part D plan, start by watching your mailbox for your Annual Notice of Change.

Once you receive it, set it aside for your annual Medicare review.

Then make a list of:

1. Your doctors and specialists

2. Your preferred hospital

3. Your prescription medications

4. Your preferred pharmacy

5. Any dental, vision, or hearing needs

6. Benefits that are particularly important to you

7. Your current premium and out-of-pocket costs

Having this information ready will make comparing your 2027 options much easier.

Your Medicare Coverage Deserves an Annual Review

Medicare is not a "set it and forget it" program.

Your health needs can change. Your medications can change. Your doctors can change. And your Medicare plan can change.

A plan that worked perfectly for you in 2026 may not be the best option for you in 2027.

The good news is that you don't have to figure it all out by yourself.

As an independent Medicare advisor, I help my clients review their Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and prescription drug options each year.

My goal is not simply to find a plan with the lowest premium. It's to help you find coverage that makes sense for your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and your healthcare needs.

Ready for 2027?

If you're a current Medicare beneficiary, don't wait until the last week of AEP to start your review.

Start early. Review your ANOC. Compare your options. And make sure the coverage you choose for 2027 still works for you.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026

Medicare plan availability, premiums, benefits, provider networks, formularies, and enrollment capacity can vary by plan and service area. Information is subject to change based on CMS and plan updates.