Medicare 2026

How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027: A Side-by-Side Checklist

Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 is easier when you compare the same things across every option in the same order. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and anything you choose takes effect January 1, 2027. The checklist below gives you a repeatable way to look at plans side by side, using each plan's own documents and the official Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov. This article is educational — it will not rank plans or tell you which to pick.

Start with your current plan (if you have one)

If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change each fall. It spells out what is changing for 2027 — premium, copays, drug tiers, network, extras. The Evidence of Coverage goes deeper into the rules. Read these first so you know whether your current plan still fits before you compare it with others.

How many plans are out there

Nationwide, CMS's Medicare Advantage Landscape files show 5,561 Medicare Advantage plans offered somewhere in the country for 2027, compared with 5,595 for 2026. What matters to you, though, is not the national count — it is which plans are offered in your county, because availability varies locally.

A side-by-side checklist

For every plan you are considering, work through the same categories in the same order. Pull the facts from each plan's own documents (the Summary of Benefits, Evidence of Coverage, and formulary) and from Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

1) Network. Are your doctors, hospitals, preferred specialists, and pharmacies in the plan's network? Check each one by name. Out-of-network care may cost more or may not be covered at all, depending on the plan type.

2) Plan type. Is it an HMO, PPO, or another type? HMOs typically require you to use in-network providers and may require referrals; PPOs usually allow out-of-network care at a higher cost. The plan documents explain the specific rules.

3) Drug coverage (formulary). Are each of your prescriptions on the plan's formulary, and on which tier? Tier affects what you pay. Also note any quantity limits or step therapy requirements.

4) Prior authorization and referrals. Which services require prior approval? Does the plan require a referral to see specialists? These rules can affect how quickly you get care.

5) Costs. Look at the monthly premium, the medical deductible (if any), copays and coinsurance for the services you use most (primary care, specialist, urgent care, hospital, imaging), and the yearly out-of-pocket maximum for in-network care. For drugs, review the Part D deductible and cost-sharing by tier.

6) Extra benefits. Many plans include dental, vision, hearing, or other extras. Read the fine print: annual limits, networks, and what is actually covered vary a lot. A benefit "included" may still have a cap.

7) Star rating. CMS rates plans on quality and member experience. Use it as one input, not the only one.

8) Your own drug cost estimate. In Plan Finder, enter your medications and preferred pharmacies. The tool estimates what your drugs would cost under each plan available in your ZIP code.

Program-wide numbers to keep in mind for 2027

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches that amount, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.
• The most any Part D plan may charge as a drug deductible in 2027 is $700. Plans may charge less.
• The Part D base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33. This is a national figure used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty; actual plan premiums are set plan by plan.
• Social Security announced a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment effective January 2027.
• The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet. CMS typically announces them in the fall. Check Medicare.gov when they are released.

Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare + Medigap: trade-offs

Both paths cover Medicare benefits, but they work differently. Medicare Advantage plans bundle Parts A, B, and usually D, often with extra benefits, in exchange for using the plan's network and rules (prior authorization, referrals in some plans). Original Medicare with a Medigap policy and a stand-alone Part D plan generally lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare, with Medigap helping with cost-sharing, but it does not include extras like routine dental or vision, and Medigap availability and pricing follow separate rules. Neither is "better" — the right fit depends on your providers, prescriptions, budget, and how you prefer to get care.

Making a change after January 1

If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027, you still have one more chance to adjust. From January 1 to March 31, 2027, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period lets you make one change — switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare (with or without a stand-alone Part D plan).

If you have Medicaid or Extra Help

Since 2025, people with Medicaid or Extra Help have a monthly Special Enrollment Period to move to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or to switch stand-alone Part D plans. Full-benefit dual-eligible individuals can join an integrated D-SNP in any month. This gives more flexibility than general enrollment windows.

Where to go for official information

For current, personalized details — including which plans are offered in your ZIP code and estimates for your own drugs — use Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For enrollment-period rules, see CMS's Medicare enrollment periods page on Medicare.gov.