Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Kinston: 2027 Plan Options, Lenoir County

KINSTON, N.C. — If you're turning 65 soon or already on Medicare here in Kinston, you have a lot of choices to sort through for 2027. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files, 42 Medicare Advantage plans were available in 2026 to people who live in Lenoir County, where Kinston is the county seat. The 2027 lineup is described in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

Kinston Has Plenty of Medicare Choices for 2027

That's a big menu — and knowing what's actually on it is the first step to picking coverage that fits your life, your doctors, and your prescriptions.

What the Numbers Look Like Locally

Medicare plan availability is set at the county level, not the city level. So while we're talking about Kinston, these counts reflect what's offered across Lenoir County:

• 42 Medicare Advantage plans available in the county
• 5 carriers (insurance companies) offering Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage (MA-PD)
• 12 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans — North Carolina has 12 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide
• Roughly 11,781 Lenoir County residents are age 65 or older

If you're wondering why the stand-alone Part D count looks low, it's because those plans are typically counted on a statewide basis. Almost every North Carolinian on Original Medicare still has access to multiple stand-alone drug plans — you can see the full list on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

Why 42 Options Isn't as Overwhelming as It Sounds

Forty-two is a lot, but you don't have to read all of them. Medicare.gov's Plan Finder lets you narrow the field quickly by entering your ZIP code, your prescriptions, and your preferred pharmacies. Most people end up comparing a small handful of plans that actually match their needs.

A few things worth knowing as you compare:

• Networks vary. Medicare Advantage plans typically use provider networks. If you already have doctors at UNC Health Lenoir or specialists in Greenville or Raleigh, check that they're in-network before you enroll.
• Drug lists (formularies) vary. Two plans from the same insurer can cover your medications very differently.
• Extras vary. Many Advantage plans include things like dental, vision, or hearing, but the details differ from plan to plan.

We're not naming or ranking plans here — that's a personal decision, and the best tool for it is Medicare.gov or a trained counselor.

Star Ratings: What They Are (and Aren't)

CMS publishes Star Ratings each fall that score Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on things like customer service, member complaints, and preventive care. Under CMS's 2026 Star Ratings, 9 of the 12 rated contracts serving Lenoir County are rated 4 stars or higher. Updated ratings for the 2027 plan year are posted on Medicare.gov.

That sounds worse than it is. Ratings shift every year, some newer contracts aren't rated yet, and stars are only one piece of the picture. Your doctors, your drugs, and your total out-of-pocket costs usually matter more than a rating number.

2027 Program Changes That Affect Everyone

No matter which plan you land on, a few Medicare-wide rules are changing or worth remembering for 2027:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 for 2026 and $2,400 for 2027. Once your prescription drug costs hit that ceiling for the year, you pay nothing more for covered drugs.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027. Individual plans may set a lower deductible, but none can go higher.
• 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. This optional program lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges for higher-income beneficiaries begin above $109,000 in income for single filers in 2026.

Key Dates to Circle

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when most people can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027 coverage.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan and it's not working out, you get one chance during this window to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.