Medicare 2026

Medicare in Vermont for 2027: 2 New Advantage Plans, and What Else Changes

MONTPELIER — Vermonters on Medicare will see a slightly larger menu of Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, a steady lineup of stand-alone drug plans, and a new, lower cap on what Part D will ask them to pay out of pocket for covered prescriptions. The federal Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice made during that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

Medicare 2026Vermont

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

Vermont will have 5 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2027, compared with 3 in 2026, across the state's 6 counties. According to the CMS Landscape file for the state, 2 plans are new, 0 are leaving everywhere in the state, and 0 are changing in a way CMS tracks (a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name). Because Medicare Advantage is sold county by county, the statewide count is not the number a given reader will see at their address — the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov shows exactly what is offered for a specific ZIP code. If a plan is being discontinued where someone lives, that member should receive a non-renewal letter from the insurer, and continuing members should get an Annual Notice of Change explaining any 2027 differences. People whose plan is not returning qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that runs into February 2027 to pick a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan or return to Original Medicare.

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

Two Vermont counties show the most county-level change for 2027: Caledonia County, with 1 plan leaving and 0 changing, and Essex County, with 1 plan leaving and 0 changing. A plan "leaving" a county means it will not be offered there in 2027, even if the insurer still sells plans elsewhere in the state. Residents of those counties who are currently enrolled in a departing plan should watch the mail in September and October 2026 for the non-renewal notice and then compare the 2027 options for their ZIP code on medicare.gov before December 7, 2026. The Special Enrollment Period tied to a plan non-renewal gives extra time into February 2027, but acting during Open Enrollment keeps coverage seamless on January 1.

What stand-alone Part D drug plans are available in Vermont for 2027?

Vermont will have 10 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans available in 2027, from 5 insurers, compared with 11 plans in 2026. Stand-alone Part D is the route generally used by people who keep Original Medicare (and often a Medigap policy) and want prescription coverage. Premiums, deductibles, pharmacy networks and drug lists vary plan by plan and change each year, so the only reliable way to compare for a specific prescription list is the Plan Finder at medicare.gov or a call to 1-800-MEDICARE. One national rule worth knowing: no Part D plan may charge a deductible above $700 in 2027.

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

Medicare.gov lists 14 Medigap insurers for a Vermont ZIP code looked up in the policy search tool. Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) is sold alongside Original Medicare and helps pay cost-sharing like deductibles and coinsurance. The standardized plan letters are federal, but availability, pricing rules and enrollment protections work at the state level, so Vermont residents should check the Medigap pages on medicare.gov or call insurers directly for what applies to them. People new to Medicare have a one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window tied to their Part B start date; outside that window, medical underwriting may apply under federal rules.

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

For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026, and the maximum allowable Part D deductible is $700. The Part D base beneficiary premium — a national figure used in the late-enrollment penalty, not what any specific plan charges — is $41.33 for 2027. On October 14, 2026, the Social Security Administration announced a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for benefits payable beginning January 2027. The 2027 standard Part B premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced; CMS typically releases those figures in the fall. Once published, they appear on medicare.gov.

What should Vermont Medicare members do before December 7, 2026?

A short checklist for Open Enrollment 2027: read the Annual Notice of Change your current plan mails in September, since that is where any 2027 differences in your plan appear; if you got a non-renewal letter, note the Special Enrollment Period that extends into February 2027; make a current list of your prescriptions, pharmacies and doctors; run that list through the Plan Finder at medicare.gov for your ZIP code; and submit any enrollment choice by December 7, 2026 so coverage starts January 1, 2027.

Where can Vermonters get free Medicare help?

Free, personalized help is available from Medicare itself at 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and at medicare.gov, where the Plan Finder shows the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans offered at a specific Vermont ZIP code and lists Medigap insurers filed in the state.