Medicare 2026

Medicare in Alabama for 2027: 10 Advantage Plans Leaving, 25 New, and What Else Changes

MONTGOMERY — People with Medicare in Alabama will see a reshaped menu of Medicare Advantage choices for 2027, along with a smaller stand-alone drug plan lineup and new national dollar limits that apply to every Part D plan in the country. The window to compare and choose is the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice made in that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Alabama for 2027?

Alabama will have 113 Medicare Advantage plans available across 67 counties in 2027, compared with 98 in 2026. Of the statewide lineup, 10 plans are not returning anywhere in Alabama, 25 are new, and 27 are changing in some way — a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. Medicare Advantage is sold county by county, so a plan counted statewide may or may not be offered where you live. The only way to see the exact plans in your ZIP code is through the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Two mailings deserve a careful read this fall. The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current plan spells out what is different for 2027. If your plan is leaving, you should also get a non-renewal letter. Members whose plan is not returning qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 28, 2027 to choose a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan.

Which Alabama counties have the most Medicare Advantage changes for 2027?

Five Alabama counties stand out for the number of plans leaving or changing between 2026 and 2027. In Marshall County, 10 plans are leaving and 17 are changing. Bibb County has 8 leaving and 18 changing. Elmore County has 10 leaving and 16 changing. Lauderdale County has 10 leaving and 16 changing. Chilton County has 7 leaving and 18 changing.

If you live in one of those counties, the odds that something about your plan is different in 2027 are higher than average. "Changing" does not mean worse — it means the plan's details are not identical to 2026. Read the ANOC, then compare on medicare.gov before December 7, 2026.

How many stand-alone Part D drug plans are available in Alabama for 2027?

Alabama will have 11 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, down from 12 in 2026, offered by 6 insurers. Stand-alone Part D is what people on Original Medicare — or Medicare paired with a Medigap policy — use for drug coverage. Every Part D plan nationwide must follow the same 2027 rules: the out-of-pocket cap is $2,400, and the deductible cannot exceed $700. Premiums, drug lists (formularies) and pharmacy networks still vary plan by plan, which is why checking your specific medications on the Plan Finder matters.

How many Medigap insurers are listed in Alabama for 2027?

Medicare.gov lists 22 Medigap insurers for a ZIP code in Alabama. Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance) is sold by private insurers to work alongside Original Medicare and help cover costs like coinsurance and deductibles. The lettered plans (Plan G, Plan N, and so on) are standardized, but pricing and underwriting rules differ by company and by situation. Medicare.gov has a Medigap search tool, and the Alabama Department of Insurance can confirm which companies are licensed in the state.

What are the national Medicare numbers for 2027, and did Social Security announce a COLA?

Three national figures are confirmed for 2027. The Part D out-of-pocket maximum rises to $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. The highest allowed Part D deductible is $700. And the Part D base beneficiary premium — a national figure used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty, not the premium you pay — is $41.33.

The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefits payable beginning January 2027.

The 2027 standard Part B premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income-related surcharges, have not been announced yet. CMS typically releases those figures in the fall, usually November. When they are posted, they will appear on medicare.gov and in the Social Security notices mailed to beneficiaries.

What should Alabama Medicare beneficiaries do before December 7, 2026?

Before the December 7, 2026 deadline, Alabamians with Medicare should do five things. First, read the Annual Notice of Change from your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Second, if you received a non-renewal letter, note that you have through February 28, 2027 to pick a replacement. Third, make a current list of your prescriptions, pharmacies and doctors. Fourth, run that list through the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to see every plan in your ZIP code. Fifth, confirm any plan details directly with the insurer before you enroll.

Where can Alabamians get free help with Medicare for 2027?

Free, unbiased help with 2027 Medicare choices is available at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Plan Finder on medicare.gov is the official tool for comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans by ZIP code, including premiums, drug coverage and star ratings tied to your prescriptions.