Medicare Advantage
Blue Cross NC's Medicare Advantage lineup in Winston-Salem for 2027: one plan not returning
Winston-Salem, N.C. — Fall 2026. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is bringing seven Medicare Advantage plans to Forsyth County for 2027, down from eight this year, with one plan not returning and no new plans added. The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026 — the window to compare, switch or stay.
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Key takeaways
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is offering 7 Medicare Advantage plans in Forsyth County for 2027, including 1 Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) and 5 plans with drug coverage built in.
- Compared with 2026, 1 Blue Cross NC plan is not returning for 2027, 0 are new, and 0 were renamed; your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) spells out any other changes.
- 12 other carriers also sell Medicare Advantage plans in Forsyth County for 2027, for a county total of 97 plans — so Blue Cross NC is one of many options to compare.
- Anyone who does nothing by December 7, 2026 keeps their current plan if it is offered next year, with the changes described in the ANOC.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Forsyth County (2026) | 99 | CMS |
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Forsyth County (2027) | 97 | CMS |
| Plans not returning for 2027 / new for 2027 | 15 / 13 | CMS |
| Organizations offering Medicare Advantage in Forsyth County (2026) | 13 | CMS |
| Share of eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, Forsyth County | 70% | CMS |
| Residents age 65 and older, Forsyth County | 66,134 | 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.
MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent news and education site. We are not Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, and we are not Medicare. We are summarizing the carrier's 2027 lineup here so Winston-Salem readers can see what is on offer before checking the specifics against their own doctors and prescriptions on medicare.gov.
What Blue Cross NC Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Winston-Salem for 2027?
Winston-Salem is in Forsyth County, where Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is offering 7 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. By type, the lineup breaks down as 1 HMO, 4 HMO-POS and 2 PPO plans. One of the seven is a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), designed for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
Five of the seven plans include Part D prescription drug coverage; two do not. The full list of plan names, types and drug-coverage status appears in the table below on this page, in alphabetical order.
What is new or not returning from Blue Cross NC for 2027?
In Forsyth County, 1 Blue Cross NC Medicare Advantage plan from 2026 is not returning in 2027. The carrier is adding 0 new plans and has renamed 0 plans for next year. That means the overall shape of the lineup is similar to 2026, with one fewer option.
If you are enrolled in a Blue Cross NC plan today, watch for your Annual Notice of Change in the mail or your plan's member portal. The ANOC is the official document that lays out what is changing in your specific plan for 2027 — premiums, drug tiers, copays, provider network and extra benefits.
How do I check a Blue Cross NC plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?
The most reliable way is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. You enter your ZIP code, add your prescriptions and preferred pharmacy, and the tool shows how each plan would handle them side by side. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
To check whether a specific doctor, hospital or specialist is in network, use the plan's own provider directory on the carrier's website, or call the plan directly using the number on its Summary of Benefits. For prescriptions, ask for the plan's 2027 formulary — the list of drugs it covers and the tier each drug sits on.
A few things worth confirming before December 7, 2026:
- Are each of your prescriptions on the 2027 formulary, and at what tier?
- Are your current doctors and your preferred hospital in the plan's 2027 network?
- Does the plan require referrals or prior authorization for care you expect to use?
- If you travel or live part of the year elsewhere, how does the plan cover you out of area?
How does Blue Cross NC's lineup fit into the whole Forsyth County market?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is one of 13 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Forsyth County for 2027. All carriers combined offer 97 Medicare Advantage plans countywide. That gives Winston-Salem residents a wide field to compare — HMOs, HMO-POS plans, PPOs, and several types of Special Needs Plans across the market as a whole.
We do not rank carriers or plans, and we do not call any plan "best." The right plan depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget and how you like to get care.
What Medicare figures are confirmed for 2027, and what is still coming?
CMS has confirmed several Part D figures for 2027. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. The maximum Part D deductible a plan can charge rises to $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026. The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33 — a formula input used in Part D calculations, not the premium any particular plan charges.
The 2027 standard Part B premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced. CMS publishes those later in the fall, typically in November. Until then, use the 2026 figures as a reference point only.
When does Annual Enrollment end, and what happens if I do nothing?
The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. A change made in that window takes effect January 1, 2027.
If you do nothing by December 7, your current plan renews automatically for 2027 as long as it is still offered — with the changes described in your Annual Notice of Change. If your plan is one that is not returning, your plan will send you a notice explaining your options, and you will have time to pick a new plan.
There is also a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31, 2027. In that window, if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan one time, 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 Forsyth County
(MA penetration in Forsyth 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 Forsyth County for 2027
CMS lists 7 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans in Forsyth County for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 12 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 | No | Returning |
| Blue Medicare Medical Only (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | No | 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 Forsyth 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 Period (Open Enrollment)Anyone 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
How many Blue Cross NC Medicare Advantage plans will Winston-Salem have in 2027?
What should I do if my Blue Cross NC plan is the one not returning in 2027?
Do I have to switch plans if I'm happy with mine?
Where can I compare Blue Cross NC's plans with other carriers in Forsyth County?
Watch
The Medicare Advantage changes for 2027 in every state, in 30 seconds
- 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 Winston-Salem
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 (2026 and 2027): Blue Cross NC's Forsyth County plan counts, plan types, SNP count, drug-coverage count, and year-over-year changes.
- Medicare.gov: Annual Enrollment Period dates, Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment dates, the Plan Finder tool, and 1-800-MEDICARE.
- CMS Part D program announcements for 2027: 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.
Content Integrity Standards
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This page was last updated: October 2026.