Medicare 2026

Medicare in New Hampshire for 2027: 8 Advantage Plans Leaving, 9 New

CONCORD, N.H. — The Medicare Advantage menu in New Hampshire looks a little different for 2027. Statewide, 19 Medicare Advantage plans were offered in 2026 and 20 are offered in 2027, with 8 plans not returning anywhere in the state, 9 new plans arriving, and 3 plans changing a feature such as premium, drug deductible, plan type or name. The reshuffle touches 10 counties, and some of the biggest churn shows up in Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack, Strafford and Cheshire. Alongside those local shifts, several federal numbers are set for 2027, including a lower Part D out-of-pocket cap and a 3.6 percent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.

Medicare 2026New Hampshire

What is changing in New Hampshire's Medicare Advantage lineup for 2027?

New Hampshire has 20 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2027, up from 19 in 2026, with 8 plans leaving the state entirely, 9 new plans coming in, and 3 plans changing a detail such as premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. Two carriers — Aetna Medicare and WellSense Health Plan — will not offer a Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in the state in 2027. One carrier, Devoted Health, is new to the New Hampshire Medicare Advantage market for 2027.

Three pieces of mail do the heavy lifting here. The Annual Notice of Change, which plans send in September, shows what is different for the coming year. A separate non-renewal letter goes out if a plan is leaving your area. If your current plan is not being offered in 2027, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 2027 to join another Medicare Advantage plan or move back to Original Medicare (and, if you want, add a stand-alone Part D plan). Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, so a plan counted in the statewide total may or may not be available where you live — the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov shows what's offered at your ZIP code.

Which New Hampshire counties are seeing the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?

Hillsborough County has the most movement in New Hampshire for 2027, with 8 plans leaving and 3 changing. Rockingham County has 5 plans leaving and 3 changing. Merrimack and Strafford counties each have 3 plans leaving and 3 changing, and Cheshire County has 3 plans leaving with no plans changing.

If you live in one of these counties, don't assume your plan is affected — and don't assume it isn't. Check your mail for the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and, if applicable, the non-renewal letter. Then compare what's offered at your address at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

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

New Hampshire has 8 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans available for 2027, down from 9 in 2026, offered by 4 insurers. These plans are the main option for people who keep Original Medicare and want prescription drug coverage.

Two federal rules apply across every Part D plan in 2027: no plan may charge a deductible higher than $700, and once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits $2,400, you pay $0 for the rest of the calendar year. Formularies, pharmacy networks and the premium each plan charges vary — compare them for your specific medications on the Medicare Plan Finder.

How many Medigap insurers sell plans in New Hampshire for 2027?

Medicare.gov lists 16 Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurers for a New Hampshire ZIP code. Medigap works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage, and helps pay deductibles, copays and coinsurance that Original Medicare leaves to you.

Federal rules standardize what each lettered Medigap plan (for example, Plan G or Plan N) must cover, but premiums, underwriting rules and state-specific protections differ. If you're thinking of switching from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare plus Medigap, confirm your enrollment rights before you drop coverage; the rules outside your initial Medigap open enrollment window can be strict.

What national Medicare numbers are confirmed for 2027?

Three national Medicare figures are confirmed for 2027. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (down from $2,100 in 2026). The maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700. The Part D base beneficiary premium — a national figure used to calculate the Part D 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 (COLA) for benefits payable beginning in January 2027.

The 2027 standard Part B premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income-related surcharges, have not yet been announced. CMS typically releases those figures in the fall, often in November.

What should New Hampshire Medicare beneficiaries do before December 7, 2026?

Use the window from October 15 to December 7, 2026 to make any changes for the 2027 plan year. A short checklist:

• Open the Annual Notice of Change from your current plan and note anything different for 2027.
• If you got a non-renewal letter, mark that your Special Enrollment Period runs through February 2027.
• List your current medications, pharmacies and doctors before you compare plans.
• Run your ZIP code and drug list through the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24/7.
• If you have Original Medicare and are reviewing Medigap, confirm your enrollment rights before changing anything.

Where can New Hampshire residents get free, unbiased Medicare help?

Two no-cost federal resources are open to every New Hampshire beneficiary. Medicare.gov hosts the official Plan Finder, plan documents and enrollment tools. 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can walk through your options over the phone.