Medicare Advantage

Before you renew in Reno, read your Annual Notice of Change

People in Reno can choose from 42 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 47 this year. Twelve of this year’s plans are gone, 7 are new to Washoe County, and 23 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 11 of them under a new name.

RENO, Nev. — Fall 2026 is the one stretch of the year when every person on Medicare can sit down, look at next year's plan choices, and switch if something fits better. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, your current plan simply renews for 2027 — with whatever changes are described in its Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).

Reno is in Washoe County, where the 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup looks a little different than it did this year. Here is a plain, step-by-step way to compare what is on offer before the December 7 deadline.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Reno for 2027?

Washoe County, which includes Reno, has 42 Medicare Advantage plans from 9 carriers for 2027. By plan type, that breaks down to 22 HMO plans, 9 HMO-POS plans and 11 PPO plans. Of the 42, 38 include Part D drug coverage and 24 are Special Needs Plans (17 D-SNPs for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, 7 C-SNPs for people with certain chronic conditions, and no I-SNPs).

Compared with 2026, that is a smaller menu: 7 plans are new for 2027 and 12 are not returning. The table below lists every 2027 plan available in the county.

The nine carriers serving Washoe County for 2027, in alphabetical order, are Aetna (CVS Health) with 6 plans, Alignment Health Plan with 2, Centene (WellCare) with 2, Champion Health Plan with 6, Elevance Health (Anthem) with 2, Humana with 6, Kaiser Permanente with 3, Prominence Health Plan with 7, and UnitedHealthcare with 8.

What is new in Reno's 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup?

Three things are worth noticing. First, 12 plans available in Washoe County in 2026 are not being offered in 2027. If you are in one of those plans, your insurer will send a non-renewal letter this fall explaining your options. Second, 7 plans are brand new for 2027. Third, some plans are being renamed or restructured — the specifics are in each plan's ANOC.

Program-wide, two 2027 Part D numbers are already set: the out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026) and the maximum deductible is $700 (up from $615). CMS has not yet announced the 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible or the 2027 IRMAA income brackets; those usually come out in November.

What should I check first when comparing 2027 plans?

Start with your mail. By late September, your current plan should send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It is a side-by-side of what is changing from 2026 to 2027 — premium, deductible, copays, drug tiers, extra benefits and network. Read it before you shop. Many people decide to stay after reading it; some decide to look around.

Then compare in this order:

1. Doctors and hospitals. Check that your primary care doctor, your specialists and your preferred hospital (Renown, Saint Mary's, Northern Nevada Medical Center, VA Sierra Nevada if applicable) are in-network for the 2027 plan year. Networks can change on January 1. Call the plan to confirm, and ask the doctor's office too. 2. Prescriptions. Enter every medication you take — exact name, dose and quantity — into the plan's 2027 formulary. A drug can move tiers, require prior authorization, or be dropped entirely from year to year. 3. Pharmacies. Check that your pharmacy is a preferred pharmacy for the plan, not just in-network. Preferred pharmacies usually mean lower cost-sharing on covered drugs. 4. Total yearly cost. Add premium, expected drug costs, and typical copays — not just the monthly premium. A $0-premium plan can cost more over a year than a plan with a premium. 5. Extras you will actually use. Dental, vision, hearing, fitness and over-the-counter allowances vary a lot. Count only the ones you will use.

How do I use the Medicare Plan Finder to compare?

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the one tool that pulls every plan in your ZIP code into one place and prices them against your actual drug list.

• Go to medicare.gov and choose "Find health & drug plans."
• Enter your Reno ZIP code and say whether you get Extra Help or Medicaid.
• Add every prescription with its dose and quantity.
• Add your preferred pharmacy (or two).
• The tool then shows every Medicare Advantage plan in Washoe County with your estimated yearly drug cost, the plan's premium and deductible, the Star Rating, and whether your drugs are covered.

You can log in with your Medicare account to save your drug list, or use it as a guest. If you would rather talk to someone, 1-800-MEDICARE is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What happens if my plan is one of the 12 not returning in 2027?

You will get a non-renewal notice from your insurer by early October 2026. You have a Special Enrollment Period that lets you pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare (and add a stand-alone Part D plan) through the end of February 2027. You will not be left without coverage — Medicare itself does not go away — but if you do nothing, you may land back in Original Medicare without drug coverage, which can trigger a late-enrollment penalty later. It is worth acting on that letter.

What if I pick a plan and change my mind?

You have two built-in windows. During the Annual Enrollment Period (through December 7, 2026) you can switch as many times as you want; the last choice you make is the one that takes effect January 1. Then the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027: if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different one or go back to Original Medicare one time during that window.