Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Dearborn: Wayne County Plans for 2027

For 2027, Dearborn is looking at 81 Medicare Advantage plans: 12 new, 16 gone since 2026, and 32 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 5 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Wayne County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

Dearborn seniors sizing up their 2027 Medicare coverage have a wide field to sort through. Wayne County — the county Dearborn sits in — has 81 Medicare Advantage plans available for the coming plan year, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files. That number is one of the largest menus in Michigan, and it helps explain why so many local residents say the process feels overwhelming before they even start.

This article focuses on the counts — how many plans, how many carriers, how much time you have to choose — not on ranking or recommending any specific plan.

What the numbers look like in Wayne County

Because Medicare plan availability is set at the county level, every Dearborn resident is looking at the same shelf as their neighbors across Wayne County. For 2027, that shelf includes:

• 90 Medicare Advantage plans available countywide.
• 14 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MA-PD).
• 0 stand-alone Part D drug plans shown in the county's MA-PD landscape file — people who want drug coverage bundled with a medical plan will generally be looking at MA-PD options. (Stand-alone Part D plans are still sold on a broader regional basis; medicare.gov's Plan Finder will show what's available at your ZIP code.)

Wayne County is home to about 293,523 residents age 65 or older, so the large plan count reflects both the size of the market and the number of insurers competing here.

Why so many options can feel like too many

Having 90 Medicare Advantage plans to compare is not the same as having 90 good fits. Plans differ in their networks of doctors and hospitals, their drug formularies, their prior-authorization rules, and their extra benefits. A plan that works well for a neighbor may not include your cardiologist or your prescriptions.

The most reliable way to narrow the list is to start with what you already use — your doctors, your pharmacy, and your medications — and let the Plan Finder tool on medicare.gov filter from there.

Star Ratings: what they are, and what they aren't

CMS publishes Star Ratings (1 to 5 stars) each year to measure plan quality on things like customer service, member complaints, and preventive care. Ratings can and do change year to year, and a lower star rating doesn't automatically mean a plan is wrong for you — but it's one useful data point among many.

Key 2027 program facts worth knowing

These apply no matter which plan you end up in:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 for the year. Once you hit it, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of 2027.
• Part D deductible: capped at $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027) (plans can charge less).
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional program that spreads your drug costs into predictable monthly payments instead of hitting you at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Dates to circle

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect Jan. 1.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).

Where to get unbiased help in Dearborn

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to rely on a TV commercial or a mailer.

• medicare.gov/plan-compare — the official Plan Finder tool. Enter your ZIP code and your drug list.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7, free.
• Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) — Michigan's SHIP. Trained counselors give free, one-on-one, non-commissioned help. Call 1-800-803-7174.