Medicare Advantage
Blue Cross NC's Medicare Advantage plans in Raleigh for 2027: one plan not returning
Raleigh, N.C. — As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has filed seven Medicare Advantage plans for Wake County residents for 2027. That is one fewer than the carrier offered for 2026, with no new plans and no renamed plans in the mix. If you are enrolled in a Blue Cross NC plan today, this is the window to check whether your plan is coming back next year — and, if it is, what is changing inside it.
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Key takeaways
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is offering 7 Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County for 2027, down from 8 in 2026.
- Of those 7 plans, 1 is an HMO, 4 are HMO-POS, and 2 are PPOs; 1 is a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), and all 7 include drug coverage.
- One Blue Cross NC plan offered in 2026 is not returning for 2027; your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) spells out any specific changes to your plan.
- Eight other carriers also sell Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County for 2027, for a county total of 63 plans — so you have options to compare before December 7, 2026.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Wake County (2026) | 77 | CMS |
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Wake County (2027) | 63 | CMS |
| Plans not returning for 2027 / new for 2027 | 19 / 5 | CMS |
| Organizations offering Medicare Advantage in Wake County (2026) | 11 | CMS |
| Share of eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, Wake County | 53% | CMS |
| Residents age 65 and older, Wake County | 151,920 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Part B standard monthly premium (2026) | $202.90 | Medicare.gov |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2026) | $2,100 | CMS |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2027) | $2,400 | CMS |
| Annual Enrollment Period (for 2027 coverage) | October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare.gov |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31 | Medicare.gov |
Area counts are for the county as a whole and are not a recommendation of any plan. Program figures are set nationally.
What Medicare Advantage plans does Blue Cross NC offer in Raleigh for 2027?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is offering 7 Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County — the county Raleigh sits in — for the 2027 plan year. All 7 include Part D prescription drug coverage.
The lineup breaks down by plan type as follows:
- HMO: 1 plan
- HMO-POS: 4 plans
- PPO: 2 plans
- Special Needs Plans: 1 (a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan, or D-SNP)
The specific 2027 plan names, in alphabetical order, are: Blue Medicare Enhanced (HMO-POS); Blue Medicare Essential (HMO); Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS); Blue Medicare Freedom+ (PPO); Blue Medicare Medical Only (HMO-POS); Blue Medicare PPO Enhanced (PPO); and Healthy Blue + Medicare (HMO-POS D-SNP). The table on this page lists each one. MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent news and education site and is not affiliated with Blue Cross NC or Medicare.
What is new or not returning in Blue Cross NC's 2027 Raleigh lineup?
For 2027 in Wake County, Blue Cross NC has no new plans, no renamed plans, and 1 plan from 2026 that is not returning. The carrier's overall count drops from 8 plans in 2026 to 7 in 2027.
If you are in the plan that is not returning, Medicare will send you a non-renewal notice, and you will have a Special Enrollment Period to pick a different plan. For every plan that is coming back, the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan mailed in September describes what is different for 2027 — things like the formulary, provider network, cost-sharing or extra benefits. Read it alongside your Evidence of Coverage before you decide to stay or switch.
How do I check a Blue Cross NC plan against my doctors and prescriptions?
The most reliable way to check any 2027 plan against your own doctors and medications is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A simple approach:
1. Sign in to your account at medicare.gov so your current drugs and pharmacies carry over. 2. Enter your Raleigh ZIP code and pull up Wake County Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. 3. Add every prescription you take, with the exact dose and quantity. 4. For each plan you are considering, check the plan's provider directory to confirm your doctors and preferred hospitals are in network for 2027. Networks can change year to year. 5. Check the plan's formulary (drug list) for every medication, and note any prior authorization or step-therapy requirements.
Plan documents — the Summary of Benefits, Evidence of Coverage, provider directory and formulary — come from Blue Cross NC directly. We do not quote plan premiums, copays or benefits here, because those are specific to each plan and change each year.
How does Blue Cross NC compare in size to other carriers in Wake County?
Blue Cross NC is one of 9 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County for 2027. Across all carriers, Wake County has 63 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2027.
That means Blue Cross NC's 7 plans sit inside a larger local market. We are not ranking carriers or calling any plan "best" — Medicare's rules do not allow that, and the right plan depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and your budget. The point is simply that if a Blue Cross NC plan does not fit, Wake County has other options to compare during the same enrollment window.
When do I need to decide, and what happens for 2027?
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any change you make in that window takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing and your current plan is being offered again next year, it will renew automatically with the changes described in the ANOC.
A few 2027 Part D figures CMS has already confirmed are worth knowing as you shop:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
- Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
- Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027. This is a formula input, not what any specific plan charges.
The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet. CMS typically publishes those later in the fall.
If you want a second look after December 7, Medicare Advantage members get another window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, 2027, which lets you make one change to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Wake County
(MA penetration in Wake County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
2027 plan lineup
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County for 2027
CMS lists 7 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 8 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina 7 plans | |||
| Blue Medicare Enhanced (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Blue Medicare Essential (HMO) | HMO | Yes | Returning |
| Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Blue Medicare Freedom+ (PPO) | PPO | Yes | Returning |
| Blue Medicare Medical Only (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Blue Medicare PPO Enhanced (PPO) | PPO | Yes | Returning |
| Healthy Blue + Medicare (HMO-POS D-SNP) | HMO-POS D-SNP | Yes | Returning |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
The 2027 choices, by type
How Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County break down for 2027
HMO plans use a network and usually a primary-care doctor and referrals; HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network coverage; PPO plans also cover out-of-network care, at a higher share; PFFS plans pay any provider that accepts the plan’s terms. Special Needs Plans serve people with Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNP), certain chronic conditions (C-SNP) or living in an institution (I-SNP).
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I do nothing by December 7, 2026?
How do I find out if my doctor or hospital is in a specific Blue Cross NC plan's network for 2027?
Does Blue Cross NC offer a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan in Wake County?
Are there other carriers I should look at too?
- CMS — MA Landscape Source File (plan-level availability by county)
- CMS — MA Landscape Source Files, current and coming plan year (year-over-year comparison)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Also for Raleigh
Sources and methodology
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Source Files
- CMS, Medicare Advantage state/county penetration and enrollment files
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table B01001, age 65 and older)
- Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (Part B premium)
- CMS, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) program rules
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan-year announcements
- Medicare.gov, enrollment periods and plan rules
Figures cited in this article
- CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files (plan years 2026 and 2027): Blue Cross NC's Wake County plan lineup, plan types, D-SNP count, drug coverage, and the year-over-year count of new, renamed and non-returning plans; the total number of Medicare Advantage plans and carriers in Wake County for 2027.
- Medicare.gov: the Annual Enrollment Period dates, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment dates, and the Plan Finder tool for checking doctors and drugs.
- CMS 2027 Part D parameters: the $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, $700 maximum deductible and $41.33 national base beneficiary premium.
How we put this together: area counts come from the CMS files listed above for the county that contains this city, program figures come from CMS, Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration, and no plan is ranked or recommended.
By The Medicare Desk · Published . For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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This page was last updated: October 2026.