Medicare 2026

Medicare in Texas for 2027: 102 Advantage Plans Leaving, 100 New, and What Else Changes

AUSTIN — The 2027 Medicare picture in Texas comes into focus with a mix of continuity and churn. Statewide, 421 Medicare Advantage plans will be offered across 254 counties next year, down slightly from 423 in 2026. Beneath that near-steady headline, 102 plans are leaving the state entirely, 100 new plans are arriving, and 105 are changing a key feature like premium, drug deductible, plan type, or name. For many Texans, that means the plan card in the wallet on January 1 may look different — or may need to be replaced during Medicare Open Enrollment 2027, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.

Medicare 2026Texas

How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Texas for 2027, and what is changing?

Texas will have 421 Medicare Advantage plans available across 254 counties in 2027, compared with 423 in 2026. Within that total, 102 plans are not returning anywhere in the state, 100 are new, and 105 are changing a plan feature such as premium, drug deductible, plan type, or plan name.

Carriers with no Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in Texas for 2027 include American Health Advantage of Texas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NM, TX, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of OK, TX, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, CHRISTUS Health Advantage, and Memorial Hermann Health Plan. One carrier, MedCare Partners Health Plan of Texas, is new to the state's Medicare Advantage market.

What this means for members: every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan sends an Annual Notice of Change in the fall describing what will be different next year. If a plan is not returning, the insurer also sends a non-renewal letter. Members of a non-renewing plan qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 2027 to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan. Members whose plan is simply changing can switch during Annual Enrollment 2027 (October 15 – December 7, 2026) for a January 1 effective date.

Because Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, a plan counted statewide may not be offered in your county. Confirm what's available at your address using the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.

Which Texas counties see the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?

The counties with the most movement in Texas for 2027 are Harris (37 plans leaving, 27 changing), Collin (37 leaving, 21 changing), Fort Bend (33 leaving, 20 changing), Dallas (29 leaving, 22 changing), and Bexar (28 leaving, 25 changing).

In practical terms, residents of Houston, Plano, Sugar Land, Dallas, and San Antonio metros are the most likely to receive either an ANOC describing meaningful changes or a non-renewal letter. Even if your plan is returning, the version you have in 2026 may not match what you'd have in 2027 — the comparison worth doing is between your renewing plan and the other plans available at your ZIP code.

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

Texas will have 10 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, offered by 5 insurers, down from 12 plans in 2026. Stand-alone Part D is primarily used by Texans who keep Original Medicare, often paired with a Medigap policy.

If your current Part D plan is one of those not returning, you'll receive a non-renewal letter and qualify for a Special Enrollment Period through February 2027. If it is returning, the ANOC will list what's changing. For 2027, no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700, and once you've paid $2,400 out of pocket for covered drugs, you pay nothing more for the rest of the year.

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

Medicare.gov lists 28 Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurers for a Texas ZIP code. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare and is separate from Medicare Advantage; it does not include drug coverage, so people with Medigap typically add a stand-alone Part D plan.

Medigap pricing, underwriting rules, and the specific companies available can vary by ZIP code and by applicant. The Plan Finder and Medigap tool at Medicare.gov will show the companies and standardized plan letters available at your address.

What national Medicare numbers are confirmed for 2027?

Three national figures are set for 2027: the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), the maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700, and the Part D base beneficiary premium used in the late-enrollment penalty calculation is $41.33. Individual plan premiums are set plan by plan.

Separately, the Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for benefits payable beginning January 2027.

Two important 2027 numbers are not yet announced: the standard Part B premium and deductible, and the IRMAA income-related brackets and surcharges. CMS typically releases those in the fall, usually November. Watch Medicare.gov for the official figures.

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

A short checklist before the December 7, 2026 deadline:

• Read the Annual Notice of Change from your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• If you received a non-renewal letter, note that your Special Enrollment Period runs through February 2027.
• List your doctors, hospitals, and medications, then run them through the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov for your ZIP code.
• If you prefer Original Medicare, check whether your Medigap policy still fits and whether your Part D plan is returning.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE with questions.

Where can Texans get free Medicare help?

Free, unbiased help is available at Medicare.gov and by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Plan Finder lets you enter your ZIP code and medications to see every Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap option available at your address.