Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Charlotte: 79 Plans for 2027 in Mecklenburg

People in Charlotte can choose from 79 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 94 this year. 19 of this year's plans are gone, 14 are new to Mecklenburg County, and 18 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 10 of them under a new name.

Medicare in Charlotte: 79 plan options available in Mecklenburg County for 2027, plus key dates and program facts.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If you're turning 65 in the Queen City, or you already have Medicare and plan to shop during this fall's enrollment window, here's the number to know: 79 Medicare Advantage plans are available for 2027 in Mecklenburg County, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Plan Finder and Landscape files.

That's a lot of choices for the roughly 137,900 Charlotte-area residents age 65 and older. This guide won't tell you which plan to pick — that's a personal decision — but it will help you understand what those numbers mean and how to work through them without getting overwhelmed.

How many Medicare options are on the table in Charlotte?

Charlotte is in Mecklenburg County, and Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. For 2027, CMS data shows:

• 79 Medicare Advantage plans available in Mecklenburg County.
• 12 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) in the area, including Alignment Health Plan, new to the county for 2027.
• North Carolina has 12 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide, available to residents who stay with Original Medicare. (Beneficiaries who stay with Original Medicare still have access to stand-alone Part D plans offered in North Carolina — you'll see those when you run your ZIP code through Medicare's Plan Finder.)

Ninety-four is a big menu. The good news: you don't have to read all of them. A little sorting up front narrows the list fast.

What those numbers actually mean

Medicare has a few moving parts, and the "plan counts" above only cover certain pieces.

• Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) is the federal program itself. It's the same everywhere in the country and isn't part of the 94-plan count.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. This is where the 94-plan number comes from.
• Part D covers prescription drugs. In Mecklenburg County, drug coverage is generally bundled into Medicare Advantage plans (MA-PD).
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies are separate from the count above. They work alongside Original Medicare and are regulated by the state.

So when someone says "Charlotte has 94 Medicare plans," they're really talking about Medicare Advantage options. Your full set of choices — Original Medicare, Advantage, Part D, Medigap — is broader than any single number.

A simple way to narrow 94 down

You don't need to compare all 94 plans side by side. A few questions can shrink the list quickly:

1. Do my doctors and preferred hospitals take the plan? Networks matter in Advantage plans. Start here. 2. Are my prescriptions covered, and at which pharmacies? Plan Finder on medicare.gov lets you enter your drug list. 3. Do I travel often or split time between states? That may change how you weigh network rules. 4. How do I feel about trade-offs between monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs when I actually use care?

Answering those four usually knocks the list down to a handful worth a closer look.

Program facts worth knowing for 2027

These apply nationwide, not just in Charlotte, but they shape what your coverage will look like in 2027:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Plans can charge less, but not more.
• The "donut hole" coverage gap is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is optional and lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments.
• IRMAA — the income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D — begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

About Star Ratings in the Charlotte area

CMS publishes annual Star Ratings (1 to 5 stars) that measure plan quality on things like customer service, member complaints, and preventive care. Under CMS's 2026 Star Ratings, 15 contracts are rated 4 stars or higher among the 26 Medicare Advantage contracts offering plans in Mecklenburg County (23 of those contracts have a 2026 Star Rating).

Ratings shifted across the country over the past year as CMS tightened its methodology, and many contracts nationwide moved up or down. Use stars as context, not a verdict, and weigh them alongside network, drug coverage, and cost details in each plan's materials.

Key dates for Charlotte enrollees

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when most people change Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage for 2027.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in an Advantage plan, you get one chance during this window to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
• Initial Enrollment Period: The 7-month window around your 65th birthday.
• Special Enrollment Periods: Triggered by life events like moving, losing job coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help.

Mark December 7 on the fridge. Missing it usually means waiting.