Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Meridian, MS: 2027 plan choices

Medicare in Meridian: Lauderdale County's 2026 plan counts and what to check for 2027 during the fall enrollment window.

MERIDIAN, Miss. — If you are shopping for Medicare coverage in Meridian this fall, you have a lot to sort through. Meridian is in Lauderdale County, where 46 Medicare Advantage plans were available for 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan landscape data. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Roughly 13,300 county residents are age 65 and older.

Knowing how many options exist — and where those options come from — is the first step to making a calm, confident decision before the Annual Enrollment Period closes on December 7.

What the 2026 numbers looked like in Lauderdale County

Here is the plain count, straight from CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape data for 2026. The 2027 counts will appear on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder:

• 46 Medicare Advantage plans available in Lauderdale County.
• 5 carriers offering Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) in the area.
• 0 stand-alone Part D plans listed in the county's 2026 landscape file for the area we pulled. Check Medicare.gov's Plan Finder for the 2027 list.
• 0 contracts in the area rated 4 stars or higher on CMS's Star Ratings.

A quick reminder: plan availability is set at the county level, not the city level. So while we say "Meridian," the counts apply to everyone with a Lauderdale County ZIP code.

Why the plan count matters (and why it doesn't tell the whole story)

Forty-six is a big menu. But the count alone doesn't tell you which plan fits your doctors, your medicines, or your budget. Two plans from the same carrier can look almost identical on paper and treat your specific prescriptions very differently.

That is why CMS built tools like the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. It lets you enter your drugs, pharmacies, and preferred doctors and then compare plans side by side using the same data insurers submit to CMS.

What Star Ratings mean

Every year, CMS scores Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on a 1-to-5 star scale. Ratings measure things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions.

For 2026, CMS data showed 0 contracts rated 4 stars or higher serving the Lauderdale County area. Ratings can move up or down each year, so it is worth checking the current stars on medicare.gov when you compare plans for 2027.

We are not using ratings here to point you toward any particular plan — just to explain what the number means when you see it.

Key program facts to keep in mind for 2027

Some Medicare rules apply no matter which plan you pick or where you live:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can set a lower one).
• No more "donut hole": As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: An optional program that lets you spread your drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges: Higher-income beneficiaries pay more for Part B and Part D. For 2026, the surcharge starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Important dates for Meridian residents

• October 15 – December 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Coverage starts January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

Missing these windows usually means waiting a full year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, if you move or lose other coverage).

Where to get unbiased help in Mississippi

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to rely on a TV commercial.

• medicare.gov — the official site. Use Plan Finder to compare every plan available in your ZIP code.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7 live help.
• Mississippi SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — free, one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers who do not sell insurance. In Mississippi, SHIP is run through the Mississippi Insurance Department. Call 1-844-822-4622 for local help.