Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Buffalo: 57 Plan Choices for 2027 in Erie County

Erie County has 60 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 21 plans are not coming back, 11 are new, and 18 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 3 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Buffalo, not which plan to pick.

Medicare in Buffalo: 57 plan options available in Erie County for 2027 — see counts, carriers and key dates.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — If you are shopping for Medicare coverage in Western New York this fall, you have a lot to sort through. Buffalo is in Erie County, where 57 Medicare Advantage plans are being offered for the 2027 plan year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Landscape files. Of those, 46 are continuing, 11 are new, 21 are not returning, and 3 have been renamed; 15 continuing plans change something in their terms (see each plan's ANOC for details). That is a big menu — and knowing how to narrow it down matters more than the raw number.

What "70 plans" really means in Erie County

CMS sets Medicare Advantage and Part D availability at the county level, not the city level. So while you may hear neighbors in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, or Amherst compare notes, everyone with a home address in Erie County is choosing from the same countywide menu.

For 2027, that menu in Erie County includes:

• 70 Medicare Advantage plans (most of which include prescription drug coverage).
• 10 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage (MA-PD).
• 0 stand-alone Part D drug plans listed separately in the county file — meaning most local drug coverage comes bundled inside a Medicare Advantage plan. If you want Original Medicare plus a stand-alone drug plan, check Medicare.gov directly for plans serving your ZIP code.

With roughly 183,350 residents age 65 and older in Erie County, that is a wide field of options for a large Medicare population.

Why so many options can feel overwhelming

More plans do not automatically mean a better fit. Each Medicare Advantage plan has its own network of doctors and hospitals, its own drug list (formulary), and its own rules for referrals and prior authorization. A plan that works well for a neighbor may not cover your cardiologist, your pharmacy, or your specific medications.

That is why Medicare experts suggest starting with your needs — not with a plan name.

How to decide: a step-by-step approach

Here is a simple order of operations that keeps the choice manageable:

1. List your doctors and hospitals. Include primary care, specialists, and any Buffalo-area health system you rely on. 2. List your prescriptions. Write down the exact name, dose, and how often you take each one. 3. Decide on the coverage road. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) plus a stand-alone drug plan and possibly a Medigap policy is one path. A Medicare Advantage plan that bundles everything together is another. 4. Use the Plan Finder. At Medicare.gov, enter your ZIP code and medications. The tool filters the Erie County options down to plans that actually cover your drugs and shows estimated yearly costs. 5. Check the network. Once you have a short list, confirm each doctor and hospital is in-network for the specific plan year. 6. Ask for help. You do not have to do this alone.

Key 2027 rules to keep in mind

A few program-level facts apply no matter which plan you choose:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you reach the cap, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible: The maximum plan deductible is $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027.
• No more donut hole: As of 2025, the coverage gap is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can ask to spread your drug costs into monthly payments across the year instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income enrollees pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D. For a single filer in 2026, IRMAA starts above $109,000 in income.

Important dates for Buffalo enrollees

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: 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. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

Missing the fall deadline usually means waiting a full year to make a change, so mark the calendar.

A note on Star Ratings in Erie County

CMS publishes Star Ratings each year to measure plan quality. In the current data for the Erie County area, no contracts are showing a rating of 4 stars or higher. Ratings can shift year to year and depend on how CMS groups contracts nationally, so treat them as one data point — not the deciding factor. Your doctors, your drugs, and your total costs usually matter more.

Where to get unbiased help in Buffalo

You do not need to pay anyone to help you compare Medicare plans. Free, trusted resources include:

• Medicare.gov Plan Finder — enter your ZIP code and medications for a personalized list.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
• New York's SHIP program, called HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program). Erie County residents can reach counselors through the Erie County Department of Senior Services.