Medicare 2026

Medicare in North Carolina for 2027: 29 Advantage Plans Leaving, 33 New

RALEIGH, N.C. — People with Medicare in North Carolina will see a reshuffled Medicare Advantage menu for 2027, along with national Part D changes that apply to every state. According to the CMS Landscape Source File for the coming plan year, 179 Medicare Advantage plans will be offered across North Carolina's 100 counties in 2027, up from 175 in 2026. Within that total, 29 plans are not returning anywhere in the state, 33 are new, and 41 are changing in at least one feature such as premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. The window to compare and choose is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, 2026, with any choice taking effect January 1, 2027.

Medicare 2026North Carolina

What is changing with Medicare Advantage in North Carolina for 2027?

North Carolina will offer 179 Medicare Advantage plans statewide in 2027, compared with 175 in 2026. The CMS Landscape file shows 29 plans leaving the state entirely, 33 new plans entering, and 41 continuing plans changing at least one feature such as premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. Experience Health is listed as having no Medicare Advantage plan in North Carolina for 2027. Because Medicare Advantage is sold county by county, a plan counted in the statewide total may or may not be offered in a given reader's county.

Two pieces of mail do most of the work of explaining what changes for a current member. The Annual Notice of Change, sent in the fall, lists what a current plan will look like next year. A separate non-renewal letter arrives when a plan is leaving. People whose plan is not returning qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 2027 to select a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, in addition to the regular Annual Enrollment Period that closes December 7, 2026.

Which North Carolina counties have the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?

Five North Carolina counties stand out for turnover in the 2027 Landscape file. In Davidson County, 14 plans are leaving and 26 are changing. In Forsyth County, 15 are leaving and 25 are changing. In Guilford County, 15 are leaving and 25 are changing. In Johnston County, 19 are leaving and 21 are changing. In Avery County, 17 are leaving and 22 are changing.

Residents of those counties are the most likely to see a non-renewal letter or an Annual Notice of Change with meaningful differences from the 2026 plan. Even in counties with less churn, it is worth opening both envelopes and comparing on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov before the December 7, 2026 deadline.

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

North Carolina will have 11 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, from 6 insurers, compared with 12 in 2026. Stand-alone Part D is the pathway most often used by people who keep Original Medicare, or who pair a Medigap policy with separate drug coverage.

The Part D program itself is changing nationally in 2027. The out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs rises to $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026, and no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700. Specific premiums, deductibles under that ceiling, and drug lists vary plan by plan and are shown on the Medicare Plan Finder.

How many Medigap insurers are listed for North Carolina in 2027?

Medicare.gov lists 29 Medigap insurers for a North Carolina ZIP code heading into 2027. Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is sold alongside Original Medicare and is regulated differently from Medicare Advantage. The letter-named plans (such as Plan G or Plan N) are standardized, but premiums and underwriting rules differ by insurer and by when a person first became eligible. The rules around guaranteed issue rights, open enrollment for Medigap, and switching between policies are explained on medicare.gov.

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

Three national Part D figures are confirmed for 2027: the 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 is $41.33. That base premium is a national figure used in the Part D late-enrollment penalty; 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. The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible have not yet been announced; CMS typically releases them in the fall, usually November. The 2027 IRMAA income brackets and surcharges, which are published alongside the Part B figures, have also not been announced. Any specific 2027 Part B or IRMAA number should come from CMS directly once it is posted on medicare.gov.

What should North Carolina Medicare members do before December 7, 2026?

A short checklist for the Annual Enrollment 2027 window:

• Open the Annual Notice of Change from a current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan and note any differences for 2027.
• Watch for a non-renewal letter; if a plan is leaving, the Special Enrollment Period runs through February 2027.
• Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare plans available in a specific North Carolina county, since plans are offered county by county.
• Confirm current prescriptions and preferred pharmacies in any plan under consideration using the plan's own documents.
• Make any change by December 7, 2026 for a January 1, 2027 effective date.

Where can North Carolinians get free Medicare help?

Free, unbiased help is available directly from Medicare. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov shows every Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap option by ZIP code, with plan-specific details. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can answer enrollment and coverage questions.