Medicare Advantage

Sizing up Medicare in Beverly: how many 2027 choices show up in your ZIP

If you live in Beverly and you're mapping out Medicare for 2027, the first useful question isn't "which plan is best?" — it's "how many options am I actually choosing from?" Knowing the size of the field helps you pace yourself before the Annual Enrollment Period closes on December 7.

The lay of the land for Beverly shoppers

Beverly sits in Essex County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. According to CMS Medicare Plan Finder data for 2026, Essex County residents had 57 Medicare Advantage plans to consider, offered by 9 carriers. The 2027 lineup is spelled out in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder — a sizable menu for a single county, and it's why a little structure goes a long way before you start comparing.

What "57 plans" really means

That 57 figure counts distinct Medicare Advantage offerings across Essex County. Many of them are MA-PD plans, meaning they bundle in Part D prescription drug coverage. Nine carriers are in the mix, so on average each carrier offers several plan variations — different networks, service areas, or drug designs.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Not every plan on the county list will be available in every Beverly ZIP code. Plan Finder narrows the list once you enter your ZIP.
• The county count includes different plan types — HMOs, PPOs, and sometimes special needs plans (SNPs) for people with specific conditions or dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility.
• The count changes year to year as carriers add, drop, or reshape plans.

Stand-alone Part D in Essex County

CMS's 2026 landscape file showed 0 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans listed in the Essex County data set used for this snapshot. If you're on Original Medicare and want drug coverage for 2027, that's a detail worth confirming directly on medicare.gov for your ZIP code before you make a decision, since national stand-alone PDP options are typically available to Medicare beneficiaries across the country.

Star Ratings, briefly

You'll see "Star Ratings" next to plans on Medicare.gov. CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on a 1-to-5 scale based on quality and member experience. In the Essex County data used here, 0 contracts were rated 4 stars or higher for 2026. Ratings can shift each year, so treat them as one input among several — not a scoreboard.

The 2027 rules that apply everywhere

No matter which of the 57 plans you look at, some Medicare-wide rules for 2026 apply:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027). Once your out-of-pocket drug spending hits that number, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027) (plans may set a lower one).
• No more donut hole: Part D now has three phases — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional program that lets you spread your Part D costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: higher-income enrollees pay surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums. For a single filer in 2026, IRMAA kicks in above $109,000 in income.

Dates to circle

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

With 150,106 Essex County residents age 65 and older, phone lines and enrollment centers get busy near the December 7 cutoff. Starting early gives you room to ask questions.

How to narrow 57 down to a shortlist

A simple approach:

1. List your must-haves. Your doctors, your pharmacy, your regular prescriptions. 2. Run your ZIP on medicare.gov. Plan Finder will show only the plans available in Beverly and let you enter your drug list. 3. Check the network and formulary. Confirm your providers and medications are covered under any plan you're seriously considering. 4. Get free help. SHINE counselors in Massachusetts (the state's SHIP) offer one-on-one, no-cost guidance.