Medicare 2026

Medicare in Delaware for 2027: 3 Advantage Plans Leaving, 4 New, and What Else Changes

DOVER — The Medicare picture in Delaware for 2027 is a story of modest turnover: a slightly larger Medicare Advantage lineup, a smaller stand-alone drug plan menu, and new national rules that reshape what people pay for prescriptions. Here is what the numbers show and what to do before December 7, 2026.

Medicare 2026Delaware

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

Delaware will have 38 Medicare Advantage plans available in 2027, compared with 37 in 2026. Across the state, 3 plans are not returning anywhere, 4 are new, and 14 are changing in at least one way — a different premium, drug deductible, plan type, or plan name. Those shifts span all 3 counties.

A larger statewide count does not automatically mean more options in your ZIP code. Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, so the exact menu depends on where you live. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov shows what is available at your address for 2027.

If you already have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, the plan is required to send an Annual Notice of Change in the fall explaining what will be different next year. If your plan is not returning in 2027, you will also get a non-renewal letter, which qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through the end of February to pick a new plan or return to Original Medicare. Read both letters carefully and keep them.

Which Delaware counties have the most Medicare plan changes for 2027?

All three Delaware counties see movement for 2027, with New Castle County showing the most churn. In New Castle County, 3 plans are leaving and 13 are changing. In Sussex County, 5 plans are leaving and 11 are changing. In Kent County, 2 plans are leaving and 10 are changing.

"Changing" can mean a different premium, a different drug deductible, a different plan type, or a renamed plan. None of that tells you whether a specific plan is better or worse for you — only the Annual Notice of Change and the plan's own 2027 documents can show the full picture for your prescriptions, doctors, and costs.

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

Delaware will have 9 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, down from 10 in 2026, offered by 5 insurers. Stand-alone Part D is what people on Original Medicare typically use for drug coverage, and it is also used by some people with certain Medicare Advantage plans that do not include drugs.

If your 2026 stand-alone plan is one of the ones not continuing into 2027, you will receive notice. Even if your plan is continuing, formularies and cost-sharing can shift year to year, so it is worth comparing on medicare.gov during Annual Enrollment 2027.

How many Medigap insurers are listed in Delaware?

Medicare.gov lists 20 Medigap insurers for a Delaware ZIP code. Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance) is separate from Medicare Advantage and is used alongside Original Medicare to help cover deductibles and coinsurance.

Medigap has its own federal rules about when you can enroll with guaranteed acceptance and when insurers can use medical underwriting. The specifics are explained on medicare.gov under Medicare Supplement Insurance.

What are the national Medicare numbers for 2027 in Delaware?

Two Part D figures are confirmed for 2027 and apply nationwide, including Delaware. The out-of-pocket cap for covered Part D drugs is $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. The most any Part D plan may charge as a deductible is $700. The Part D base beneficiary premium — a national figure used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty — is $41.33 for 2027; actual plan premiums are set plan by plan.

The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for benefits payable beginning January 2027. For many people, Part B premiums are deducted from Social Security, so the net deposit depends on both figures.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, along with the 2027 IRMAA income-related brackets and surcharges, have not been announced yet. CMS typically publishes those figures in the fall. Watch medicare.gov for the official announcement.

What should Delaware Medicare members do before December 7, 2026?

Before December 7, 2026, Delaware members with Medicare Advantage or Part D should review a short checklist for Annual Enrollment 2027:

• Open the Annual Notice of Change from your current plan and mark anything that is different for 2027.
• If you received a non-renewal letter, note that you have a Special Enrollment Period through February to make a new choice.
• Make a current list of your prescriptions, your doctors, and any pharmacy you prefer.
• Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare 2027 plans available at your Delaware address.
• Confirm any choice in writing or by phone, and save the confirmation.

A choice made during Annual Enrollment takes effect January 1, 2027.

Where can Delaware residents get free Medicare help?

Delaware residents can get free, personalized Medicare help directly from the official program. The Medicare Plan Finder, plan details, and the enrollment system are at medicare.gov. By phone, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with help in multiple languages.

For plan-specific questions — a formulary, a provider network, a prior-authorization rule — the plan's own member services line, listed in the plan documents, is the authoritative source.