Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage carriers and plan totals in Augusta

People in Augusta can choose from 85 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 84 this year. Seven of this year’s plans are gone, 8 are new to Richmond County, and 33 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 11 of them under a new name.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — If you live in Augusta and are shopping Medicare for 2027, the calendar matters just as much as the plan count. Richmond County has 74 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2027 from 9 carriers, according to CMS Plan Finder data — but none of that helps if you miss the window to act on it.

Here is what Augusta readers need to know about the enrollment dates that shape 2027 coverage, and what happens if a deadline slips by.

The one deadline every Augusta reader should circle: Dec. 7

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 every year. This is the main window when anyone on Medicare can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan.

Whatever you choose during AEP takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. If Dec. 7 passes and you did nothing, you generally stay in your current plan for another year — even if its costs, drug list, or provider network changed. That is why CMS mails an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each September. Read it before you decide to "just stay put."

With 84 Medicare Advantage options in Richmond County and 10 carriers competing, comparing takes time. Starting in October — not the first week of December — gives you room to check whether your doctors and prescriptions are covered.

The second-chance window: Jan. 1 – March 31

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) runs Jan. 1 through March 31. It's narrower than AEP and only applies if you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1.

During MA-OEP you may:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (one change only).
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare, and add a stand-alone Part D plan if you need drug coverage.

You cannot use MA-OEP to move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time. If you're on Original Medicare on Jan. 1, this window isn't for you.

One local note: CMS Plan Finder shows 0 stand-alone Part D plans marketed in Richmond County for 2027 in this data pull. If you drop a Medicare Advantage plan that included drug coverage, confirm your Part D options on medicare.gov before you make the switch, so you don't end up without prescription coverage.

Turning 65 in Augusta? Your Initial Enrollment Period is different

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a 7-month window built around your 65th birthday: the three months before, your birthday month, and the three months after. This is when most people first sign up for Part A and Part B.

Missing your IEP is the mistake with the longest tail. If you don't have other qualifying coverage (like an employer group plan), you may face:

• A Part B late enrollment penalty of 10% added to your premium for each full 12-month period you were eligible but didn't sign up. This penalty usually lasts as long as you have Part B.
• A Part D late enrollment penalty of 1% of the national base premium for every month you went without creditable drug coverage. It also sticks around for life.

If you missed your IEP and don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, the General Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31) is a backup, with coverage starting the month after you enroll.

Special Enrollment Periods: when the calendar doesn't apply

Life events can open a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) outside the usual windows. Common triggers include:

• Moving out of your plan's service area (a move into or out of Richmond County can qualify).
• Losing employer or union coverage.
• Qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid.
• Your plan leaving the Medicare program.

SEPs typically last about two months from the qualifying event. If you think one applies to you, call 1-800-MEDICARE before assuming — the rules on start and end dates vary by event.

What 2027 changes mean when you're comparing

A few program-level facts are worth keeping in mind as you weigh choices during these windows:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can set theirs lower).
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly payments across the year. You have to opt in.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

These apply nationwide, not just in Georgia, but they're often the reason people revisit their plan during AEP.