Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Stamford, CT: 2027 plan choices

Fairfield County had 36+ Medicare Advantage plans for 2026; see how to check the 2027 lineup before December 7.

STAMFORD, Conn. — If you're sorting through Medicare choices this fall, here's a useful snapshot for the Stamford area: for 2026, Fairfield County had 36 Medicare Advantage plans available from 6 carriers. The 2027 lineup is described in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Knowing the size of the field can help you plan your review before the Annual Enrollment Period ends on December 7.

How many Medicare options are on the table locally

Medicare plan availability is set at the county level, not by city. Stamford is in Fairfield County, where the 2026 CMS landscape showed 36 Medicare Advantage plans available, offered by 6 carriers that include prescription drug coverage in their Advantage plans (MA-PD). The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

Fairfield County's 2026 landscape file showed 0 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans listed separately in the local snapshot. If you have Original Medicare and want stand-alone drug coverage, use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to see current Part D options for your ZIP code — availability can update, and the tool will show what applies to you for 2027.

What "36 plans" really means

A plan count is just the size of the menu. It does not tell you which plan fits your doctors, your prescriptions, or your budget. Two people living on the same street in Stamford could reasonably choose two very different plans.

When you compare, it helps to look at:

• Whether your doctors and hospitals are in the plan's network.
• Whether your prescriptions are on the plan's drug list (formulary).
• The plan's total yearly cost estimate — not just the monthly premium.
• Any extra benefits you'd actually use.

Star Ratings, briefly

CMS publishes Star Ratings each year to measure plan quality on things like customer service, member complaints, and care outcomes. In Fairfield County's 2026 data, 0 contracts in the local snapshot were rated 4 stars or higher. Ratings can shift year to year and are one input among many — not a substitute for checking whether a plan covers your care.

Key 2026 and 2027 program facts to keep in mind

These apply nationwide, no matter which plan you pick:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that ceiling, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• No more donut hole: Since 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: An optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 for single filers in 2026.

Dates to circle

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Coverage starts January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in an MA plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).

Where to get unbiased help

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to rely on a TV ad.

• Medicare.gov Plan Finder lets you enter your prescriptions and ZIP code to compare current plans side by side.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24/7.
• CHOICES, Connecticut's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), offers free one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers. It's not tied to any insurance company.