Medicare Advantage

Before you renew in Chicago: a 6-step way to size up your 2027 Medicare Advantage choices

For 2027, Chicago is looking at 67 Medicare Advantage plans: 6 new, 17 gone since 2026, and 30 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 9 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Cook County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

CHICAGO — Fall 2026 is Medicare's loudest season, but the quiet work that matters is done at a kitchen table with last year's plan papers and a short list of your doctors and drugs. From October 15 through December 7, 2026, people on Medicare can switch Medicare Advantage plans for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, your current plan renews next year — with whatever changes it spells out in its Annual Notice of Change.

In Cook County, where Chicago sits, the Medicare Advantage lineup for 2027 is 67 plans from 12 carriers, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File. Six are new for 2027 and 17 that were sold this year will not return. That is reason enough to open your mail and compare before December 7.

What Cook County's 2027 lineup looks like

Chicago is in Cook County, and Medicare Advantage availability is set at the county level. For 2027, CMS lists 67 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers in the county. By plan type, that breaks down to 31 HMO plans, 11 HMO-POS plans, 24 PPO plans and 1 PFFS plan. All 67 include Part D prescription drug coverage.

If you qualify for a Special Needs Plan — because you have both Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNP), a qualifying chronic condition (C-SNP), or you live in a long-term care setting (I-SNP) — the county has 4 D-SNPs, 12 C-SNPs and 3 I-SNPs for 2027.

The carriers offering plans in Cook County for 2027, in alphabetical order, are Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Essence Healthcare, HealthSpring, Humana, Longevity Health, Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Provider Partners Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare and Zing Health. The table below lists every plan by carrier.

What is new for 2027

Three things are worth flagging before you compare.

First, 6 plans are new in the county and 17 plans sold here in 2026 are not returning for 2027. If your current plan is on the "not returning" list, your carrier will send you a non-renewal notice; you'll need to pick a new plan or you'll fall back to Original Medicare on January 1.

Second, a handful of plans have been renamed. A new name does not mean a new plan, but it is a signal to re-read the Annual Notice of Change carefully.

Third, two Part D numbers are confirmed for 2027: the out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs rises to $2,400 (from $2,100 in 2026), and the maximum Part D deductible a plan may charge rises to $700 (from $615 in 2026). The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet; CMS typically publishes those in November.

A 6-step way to compare, before December 7

Step 1 — Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Your plan mailed this in September. It lists, side by side, what is changing for 2027: premium, deductible, copays, drug tier placement, the maximum out-of-pocket, and any benefit added or dropped. If nothing in the ANOC bothers you, you can stay put.

Step 2 — Make a short list of your doctors and hospitals. Write down the primary care doctor, any specialists you see, and your preferred hospital. Network is where Medicare Advantage plans differ most.

Step 3 — Make a list of your prescriptions. For each one, note the exact name, the dose and how often you take it. Also list the pharmacy you actually use.

Step 4 — Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Log in (or go in anonymously), enter your ZIP code, add your drugs and your pharmacy, and the tool will show every Cook County plan with its estimated yearly drug cost, premium and star rating. Filter by plan type (HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS) if you have a preference.

Step 5 — Check the network for the plans on your short list. The Plan Finder links to each carrier's provider directory. Search your doctors and your hospital by name. If a doctor is listed, call the office to confirm they take that specific plan in 2027 — directories can lag.

Step 6 — Call before you commit. If anything is unclear, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24/7, or call the plan directly using the number on its Plan Finder page. Enrollment itself can be done on medicare.gov, by phone, or through the plan.

A quick note on the plan types

An HMO uses an in-network group of doctors and usually requires referrals to see a specialist. An HMO-POS works like an HMO but lets you go out of network for some services, usually at a higher cost. A PPO lets you see out-of-network providers who accept Medicare, generally at a higher cost-share. A PFFS plan pays providers a set amount; you can see any provider who agrees to the plan's terms. None of these is "better" than the others — the right fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you like to get care.

If you want to stay with Original Medicare

You can also use this window to pick up or change a stand-alone Part D drug plan, or to look at Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage. Medigap enrollment rules in Illinois are not tied to October 15 – December 7, but it is a reasonable time to review them alongside your Advantage choice.