Medicare Advantage

Meriden Medicare 2027: New Haven County

Meriden, Conn. — If you're comparing Medicare coverage in Meriden this fall for 2027, you have plenty to sort through. Meriden is in New Haven County, where 45 Medicare Advantage plans were available for 2026, offered by 8 carriers. The 2027 lineup is in each plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder — and knowing how many options are on the table is the first step to picking coverage that fits your life.

This article focuses on the count of options in your area, not the details of any one plan. For personal comparisons, you'll want to use medicare.gov's Plan Finder or talk with your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor.

What's available in the Meriden area

Meriden sits in New Haven County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. For 2026, New Haven County residents could choose among (the 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder):

• 45 Medicare Advantage plans (these are Part C plans, often called MA or MA-PD when they include drug coverage).
• 8 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in the county.
• 0 stand-alone Part D plans listed in the 2026 landscape data for this area. Check Medicare.gov's Plan Finder for the 2027 list.

These numbers come from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files, which CMS updates each fall.

What the plan counts mean — and don't mean

A big number of plan options isn't automatically good or bad. It just means you have more to compare. Two people on the same street in Meriden may end up with very different coverage based on the doctors they see, the medications they take, and whether they travel.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Plans change every year. Even if you like your current coverage, benefits, drug lists, and provider networks can shift for 2027. Review your ANOC.
• Doctor and pharmacy networks matter. Availability alone doesn't tell you which plans your providers accept.
• Original Medicare is always an option. You are never required to enroll in Medicare Advantage — you can stay with Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and, in many areas, pair it with a stand-alone Part D drug plan or a Medigap policy.

Key program facts for 2026 and 2027

These figures apply nationwide, not just in Meriden:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 for 2026 and $2,400 for 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that limit, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible: Up to $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027), depending on the plan.
• No more "donut hole." The old coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, leaving three payment phases.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your yearly drug costs over monthly payments instead of paying big bills at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges. Higher-income beneficiaries pay extra for Parts B and D. For 2026, surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Star Ratings, briefly

CMS publishes a Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) for many Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts. Ratings look at things like customer service, member complaints, and preventive care. For the area serving Meriden, the current landscape data does not list contracts rated 4 stars or higher. Ratings can change year to year, so it's worth checking the latest numbers on Plan Finder before you decide.

Dates to remember

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when most people can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make a one-time change during this window.

How to compare your options

1. Make a list of your regular doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions. 2. Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare and enter your ZIP code and drugs. 3. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7. 4. Contact CHOICES, Connecticut's SHIP, for free, unbiased counseling.