Medicare Advantage

How Hollywood's Metro Neighbors Compare on Medicare Choices

Broward County has 106 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 29 plans are not coming back, 16 are new, and 60 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 19 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Hollywood, not which plan to pick.

If you live in Hollywood and you've been wondering how your Medicare choices stack up against what your friends or family have across the county line, you're not alone. Plan availability in South Florida is set at the county level, so where you sleep at night — not where you shop or work — decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick from during this fall's Annual Enrollment Period.

Hollywood sits in Broward County, and Broward is surrounded by other populous Medicare markets. That means a quick look at your own county, plus a peek at the neighbors, can help you understand why your choices look the way they do.

Why your county line matters more than your city

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are sold by private carriers, but the federal government approves them to be offered in specific service areas — usually counties. Hollywood is in Broward County, so the menu of plans available to a Hollywood resident is the Broward menu.

Cross the line into Miami-Dade to the south or Palm Beach to the north, and the menu changes. That is why a neighbor in Aventura or Boca Raton may have different options than you do, even if you both live only a few miles apart.

What's on the menu in Broward for 2027

Here is what Hollywood residents are working with, based on the 2027 CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape data for Broward County:

• 119 Medicare Advantage plans are available in the county.
• 16 carriers offer Medicare Advantage plans in the county for 2027. Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC) is not offering plans in Broward next year.
• The county is home to more than 354,000 residents age 65 and older.

That is a wide field of choices — larger than what most parts of the country see. A big menu can be a blessing and a burden. More options mean a better chance of finding a plan that fits your doctors, prescriptions, and budget. It also means more homework.

How to think about "nearby areas"

If you're helping a parent in Miami-Dade, or a sibling in Palm Beach, remember that each county is its own market. The number of plans, the participating carriers, and the provider networks are different in each. When someone tells you, "I have this great plan — you should get it too," check whether that plan is even offered where you live before you get your hopes up.

A few practical tips when comparing across county lines:

• Look up availability by the ZIP code where the member actually lives.
• Check that your doctors and hospitals are in the plan's network.
• Confirm that your prescriptions are on the plan's formulary.
• Ask about referral rules if you routinely travel between counties for care.

What's changing in 2027 that affects everyone

No matter which county you sit in, some Medicare rules are the same nationwide. For 2027:

• Part D drug plans have a $2,400 annual out-of-pocket cap in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once you hit that ceiling on covered drugs, you pay nothing more for the rest of the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $700 in 2027, compared with $615 in 2026.
• The old coverage gap — the "donut hole" — has already been eliminated as of 2025. Part D now works in three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly bills instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• Higher-income beneficiaries pay IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D. In 2026, those surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Star ratings, in plain English

You may see plans described with a star rating from 1 to 5. CMS uses stars to measure things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions. Ratings can be useful background, but they are not the only thing to look at. Your doctors, your drugs, and your total costs matter more than a number on a brochure.

How to decide, step by step

1. Make a list of your doctors, hospitals, and current prescriptions. 2. Go to medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code and drug list in Plan Finder. 3. Compare the total yearly cost estimate — not just the premium. 4. Check the network for each doctor and pharmacy you use. 5. If you're unsure, call 1-800-MEDICARE or reach out to Florida SHINE, Florida's free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

Give yourself time. AEP runs October 15 through December 7, and any changes you make take effect January 1. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan and want to switch, you also have the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31.