Medicare 2026
Austin Medicare 2027: the Part D figures CMS has locked, and what still isn't out
AUSTIN — With the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 Medicare coverage running Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, Austin residents have a window to review next year's changes and switch plans if they want to. Some of the key 2027 numbers are already set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Others — including the 2027 Part B premium — have not been published yet. Here is what is confirmed, what is still pending, and what to watch for in your mailbox.
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Key takeaways
- The 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026, and the maximum Part D deductible moves to $700, up from $615.
- CMS has not yet released the 2027 Part B premium, Part B deductible, or IRMAA income brackets; those typically come out later in the fall.
- Austin is in Travis County, where 60 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 carriers are offered for the 2026 plan year, and the 2027 lineup includes some plans not returning, some new, and some renamed.
- Your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) spells out exactly what is changing for your coverage in 2027 — read it before Dec. 7, 2026.
What CMS has confirmed for 2027
Three Part D figures are already locked in for the 2027 plan year:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (it is $2,100 in 2026). Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches that amount, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (it is $615 in 2026). Plans can set a lower deductible, but no Part D plan can charge more than the maximum.
- Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027. This is a formula input CMS uses — it is not the premium any specific plan charges you.
The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") remains gone. Part D has three phases now: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan — the option to spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter — continues to be available in 2027.
What CMS has NOT announced yet
A few numbers Austin readers often ask about are still pending:
- The 2027 Part B standard premium and Part B deductible. CMS typically announces these in the fall, often in November.
- The 2027 IRMAA income brackets and the surcharge amounts for higher earners. These are published alongside the Part B figures. (For reference, in 2026 IRMAA surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.)
We will not estimate these here, and you should be cautious about any source that quotes "projected" numbers as if they were final. Wait for the official CMS release.
The Annual Notice of Change letter
If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sent (or will send) you an Annual Notice of Change by late September. This is the single most important piece of mail you will get this fall. The ANOC lists, in plain language:
- Premium changes for 2027
- Deductible and copay changes
- Formulary (drug list) changes
- Changes to the provider or pharmacy network
- Any changes to extra benefits
If you do nothing, your current plan simply renews for 2027 — with every change in that ANOC. That is why reading it matters. If something has changed in a way that no longer fits your medications, your doctors, or your budget, the Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 window is when you can switch.
How the Austin-area plan lineup is shifting
Medicare Advantage availability is set at the county level. Austin sits in Travis County, where 60 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 carriers are offered for the 2026 plan year, according to the CMS Landscape file. By plan type, that is 23 HMOs, 12 HMO-POS, and 25 PPOs, with 28 Special Needs Plans in the mix. All 60 include drug coverage. There are no stand-alone Part D plans counted in the Travis County file, because MA-PD plans in the area bundle drug coverage in.
Carriers offering MA-PD plans in the Austin area include Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Texas Independence Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare. The table below lists every plan offered in Travis County by carrier.
For 2027, CMS data shows the local lineup is shifting: 15 plans are not returning, 11 are new, and 8 are renamed. If your plan is one that is leaving, your carrier is required to notify you, and you will have a Special Enrollment Period to pick a replacement. If a plan is simply renamed, your coverage continues — the ANOC will say so.
What to do before Dec. 7, 2026
A short checklist for Austin readers:
1. Open the ANOC envelope. Compare your 2026 coverage to what 2027 will look like. 2. Make a list of your current prescriptions and the doctors and hospitals you want to keep. 3. Use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare plans available in Travis County for 2027. 4. If you have questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE or contact Texas' SHIP program (the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program, HICAP) for free one-on-one help. 5. If you want to change plans, do it by Dec. 7, 2026. The new coverage starts Jan. 1, 2027.
If you miss Dec. 7 and you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you still have the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2027, to make one change.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Travis County
(MA penetration in Travis County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?
Has CMS announced the 2027 Part B premium yet?
What happens if I do nothing during Annual Enrollment?
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available near Austin?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
- CMS — MA/Part D Landscape & Plan Finder data
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Austin
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This page was last updated: October 2026.