Medicare Advantage

Weighing Medicare choices in Plymouth: 2027 menu

People in Plymouth can choose from 25 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 32 this year. 13 of this year’s plans are gone, 6 are new to Hennepin County, and 9 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 3 of them under a new name.

Medicare AdvantagePlymouth, MN

Plymouth residents shopping for Medicare coverage this fall have a lot to sift through. According to the 2027 Medicare Plan Finder data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Plymouth sits in Hennepin County, where 22 Medicare Advantage plans are available for the coming plan year. That's the raw size of the menu — and knowing the shape of it can help you decide how much time to set aside before the December 7 deadline.

This article sticks to counts, not benefits. We're not ranking plans or telling you which one to pick. We're helping you understand how wide the field is in your area and where to go for personal answers.

What the 2027 count looks like in Hennepin County

Plymouth is in Hennepin County, where CMS lists 22 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, offered by 6 carriers. Plan availability is set at the county level, so two neighbors in Plymouth see the same lineup — but a friend across the county line may see a different one.

Thirty-two is a substantial menu. It's more than most people will realistically compare one by one, which is why the tools further down this article matter.

For context, there are roughly 198,051 people age 65 or older in Hennepin County, according to Census figures. That's a large pool of Medicare-eligible residents, which is one reason carriers offer so many plan variations here.

Where stand-alone drug plans fit in

The 2027 Plan Finder data shows 0 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans specifically flagged for the area in the file we're referencing. In practice, most people in Hennepin County who want drug coverage get it built into a Medicare Advantage plan (called an MA-PD). If you have Original Medicare and want a separate drug plan, medicare.gov's Plan Finder will show you every Part D plan you're eligible to join by ZIP code — that's the most reliable place to check.

A few program-level Part D facts worth knowing for 2027:

• The out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• The maximum Part D deductible any plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old coverage gap (the "donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments if that helps your budget.

About Star Ratings

CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on a 1-to-5 star scale each year. In the Hennepin County file, 0 contracts are rated 4 stars or higher for 2027. Star Ratings are one signal — they measure things like customer service, member complaints and preventive care — but they're not the only thing to weigh, and CMS updates them every year. Use them as background, not as a single deciding factor.

Key dates for Plymouth residents

• October 15 – December 7, 2026: Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). This is when anyone with Medicare can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027.
• January 1 – March 31: The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one chance during this window to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
• Higher-income filers: IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

How to narrow 32 plans down to a real short list

You don't have to compare 32 plans line by line. Most people can shrink the field quickly with a few personal questions:

1. Your doctors and hospitals. If you want to keep specific providers, check each plan's network before anything else. 2. Your prescriptions. Enter your medications into the Plan Finder at medicare.gov — this alone will filter the list dramatically. 3. How you like to get care. HMO, PPO and other plan types work differently. Think about whether you're comfortable with referrals and in-network rules. 4. Travel. If you spend part of the year outside Minnesota, that changes which plan types make sense.

Once you've applied those filters, the working list usually drops from dozens to a handful.

Where to get personal, unbiased help

• medicare.gov — the official Plan Finder lets you enter your ZIP code, drugs and doctors, and see every plan you're eligible for.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
• Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 — this is Minnesota's SHIP program. Counselors are trained to walk you through choices without selling you anything.