Medicare 2026

Medicare in Montana for 2027: 12 Advantage Plans Leaving, 3 New, and What Else Changes

HELENA — Montanans on Medicare will see a noticeably smaller Medicare Advantage lineup for 2027, along with a new national cap on what Part D plans can charge out of pocket for covered drugs. Here is what the public files show for the state, and what to do with the information before December 7, 2026.

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

Montana will have 23 Medicare Advantage plans offered across its 50 counties in 2027, down from 32 in 2026. Of the 2026 lineup, 12 plans are not returning anywhere in the state, 3 plans are new, and 9 are changing in some way — a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name.

Two carriers have no Medicare Advantage plan in Montana for 2027: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana and PacificSource Medicare. One carrier is new to the state's Medicare Advantage market for 2027: Range Health. Remember that Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, so a plan counted statewide may not be offered where you live. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov shows the plans available for a specific ZIP code.

What should Montana members do if their Medicare Advantage plan is changing or leaving in 2027?

Watch the mail in September and October 2026. Every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that lists what is different for the coming year. If a plan is not returning, the insurer also sends a non-renewal letter.

If a current plan will not be offered in 2027, the member qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 2027 to pick a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare (and, if desired, add a stand-alone Part D plan). Members whose plan is simply changing — not leaving — can switch during Annual Enrollment, October 15 through December 7, 2026, for coverage that begins January 1, 2027.

Which Montana counties have the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?

Five counties stand out in the 2027 landscape file. Yellowstone County has 12 plans leaving and 6 changing. Flathead County has 10 leaving and 7 changing. Cascade County has 6 leaving and 7 changing. Glacier County has 10 leaving and 3 changing. Golden Valley County has 10 leaving and 3 changing.

If you live in one of these counties, there is a higher chance your current plan is affected. The Plan Finder at medicare.gov will show, by ZIP code, which plans will be offered for 2027 and which are not returning.

How many stand-alone Part D drug plans will Montana have in 2027?

Montana will have 9 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, from 5 insurers, compared with 11 plans in 2026. These are the drug-only plans used by people on Original Medicare, or by people in a Medicare Advantage plan that does not include drug coverage.

Two national Part D rules apply everywhere in 2027: the out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs is $2,400 (down from $2,100 in 2026), and no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700. The specific premium, formulary and pharmacy network for each plan are listed in the Plan Finder and in the plan's own documents.

How many Medigap insurers are listed for Montana on Medicare.gov?

For a ZIP code in Montana, Medicare.gov currently lists 23 Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurers. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare and is regulated differently from Medicare Advantage; the standardized plan letters, when you can switch, and medical-underwriting rules are explained on medicare.gov. Montana residents who want to compare Medigap options can pull up the list for their ZIP code on the Plan Finder.

What are the national Medicare numbers for 2027, and what about Social Security?

For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400, the maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700, and the Part D base beneficiary premium — a national figure used in the late-enrollment penalty calculation — is $41.33. 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 (COLA) for benefits payable beginning January 2027.

The 2027 standard Part B premium and deductible have not been announced yet, and neither have the 2027 IRMAA income brackets and surcharges. CMS typically publishes these in the fall, usually November. Until then, no figure for them should be treated as official.

What should Montanans with Medicare do before December 7, 2026?

A short checklist for Annual Enrollment 2027:

• Open the Annual Notice of Change from your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan and note anything different for 2027.
• If you received a non-renewal letter, mark the Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 2027.
• Make a current list of your prescriptions, pharmacies and regular doctors, and use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare plans available in your ZIP code.
• Make any change by December 7, 2026, so coverage starts January 1, 2027.

Where can Montanans get free Medicare help?

Two no-cost options cover every county in Montana. The Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter a ZIP code and prescription list and see the Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap options for 2027. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with help in English, Spanish and other languages.