Medicare Advantage

Lawrence, KS Medicare Advantage tally for 2027

In Lawrence, older adults sizing up their Medicare choices for 2027 have a lot to sort through. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Plan Finder, Lawrence is in Douglas County, where 42 Medicare Advantage plans were available for 2026; the 2027 lineup is described in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. That is the pool of options local residents can compare during this fall's Annual Enrollment Period.

The number itself doesn't tell you which plan fits your life — that depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget. But knowing the size of the menu is a useful starting point before you sit down with Plan Finder or a counselor.

What the 2026 count looked like in Douglas County

For 2026, CMS listed 42 Medicare Advantage plans available to people who live in Douglas County, spread across 8 different carriers offering Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD). The 2027 lineup is in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Availability is set at the county level, so a Lawrence resident and a neighbor a few miles away in the same county see the same menu.

The county is also home to about 16,722 people age 65 and older, so this is a real, everyday decision for thousands of households — not a small niche.

Separately, the 2026 landscape data shows Kansas has 12 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide and available to anyone in Douglas County with Original Medicare. If you rely on Original Medicare and need drug coverage, it is worth confirming your 2027 options directly on medicare.gov or with a SHIP counselor before you assume anything.

Why the number of plans matters (and why it doesn't)

Having 42 Advantage plans to choose from sounds like a lot — and it is. More options can mean more flexibility to find a plan whose network includes your doctors and whose drug list covers your medications. It can also feel overwhelming.

A few things worth remembering:

• The "right" plan is personal. A plan that works well for a neighbor may not work for you if your prescriptions or providers are different.
• Plans can change from year to year. Networks, drug lists (formularies), and costs are updated annually, which is why fall review matters even if you're happy today.
• Star Ratings exist to help you gauge quality. For 2026, no contracts serving the Douglas County area were rated 4 stars or higher in the data. Ratings are one signal among many — not a substitute for checking your own doctors and drugs.

Key 2027 rules that apply everywhere

Some of the biggest Medicare changes for 2027 aren't local at all. They're set by federal law and apply whether you live in Lawrence, Topeka, or anywhere else:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: Your out-of-pocket spending on covered prescription drugs is capped at $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you reach it, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible: The maximum allowed deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• No more "donut hole": As of 2025, the coverage gap phase was eliminated. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can ask your drug plan to spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the year in monthly payments, instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay income-related surcharges on Part B and Part D. In 2026, these surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Important dates to circle

Two enrollment windows drive most Medicare decisions:

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. This is when you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance during this window to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

If you miss AEP and none of the special enrollment rules apply to you, you may be stuck with your current coverage for the year.

How to compare your options without getting lost

With 42 Advantage plans on the local menu, a little structure helps:

1. Make a short list of what matters to you — your doctors, your hospital, your prescriptions, and how much you can comfortably pay each month and out of pocket. 2. Use the official Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. You can enter your ZIP code and your drug list to see how each plan handles your specific medications. 3. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24/7, for help understanding your choices. 4. Talk to your local SHIP — the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. In Kansas, SHIP is known as SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas). Counselors are trained volunteers who don't sell plans and don't earn commissions.