Medicare Advantage

Compare 23 North Dakota Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027 From 5 Carriers

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakotans on Medicare have a defined window to look at their 2027 coverage: Annual Enrollment 2027 runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and whatever a person chooses in that window takes effect January 1, 2027. According to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files for CY2026 and CY2027, there are 23 Medicare Advantage plans available somewhere in North Dakota for 2027, offered by 5 carriers. Availability is set county by county, so a plan listed statewide may or may not be sold where a given reader lives.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in North Dakota for 2027?

North Dakota has 23 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2027 from 5 carriers, according to the CMS MA Landscape Source File for CY2027. Of those 23 plans, 17 include prescription drug coverage, 5 are new for 2027, and 11 plans offered in 2026 are not returning for 2027. Those statewide numbers describe what exists somewhere in North Dakota; the exact list in any one county, from Cass to Burleigh to Williams, is typically smaller. The county-level menu is what shows up when a reader enters a ZIP code into the Medicare Plan Finder.

What types of Medicare Advantage plans are available in North Dakota for 2027, including Special Needs Plans?

For 2027, North Dakota's 23 Medicare Advantage plans break down by type into 2 HMO plans, 15 PPO plans, and 6 Cost plans, per the CMS MA Landscape Source File for CY2027. HMO plans generally ask members to use an in-network set of doctors and hospitals; PPO plans allow out-of-network care, usually at a higher share of cost; Medicare Cost plans have their own rules around using the plan's network versus Original Medicare.

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are a separate category for people who meet specific eligibility rules. North Dakota's 2027 lineup includes 2 Dual Eligible SNPs (D-SNPs), for people with both Medicare and Medicaid; 1 Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP), for people with a qualifying condition; and 2 Institutional SNPs (I-SNPs), for people who live in or need an institutional level of care. Readers who think they may qualify can confirm eligibility through 1-800-MEDICARE.

Which carriers offer Medicare Advantage plans in North Dakota for 2027?

Five carriers offer Medicare Advantage plans in North Dakota for 2027: Aetna (CVS Health), Align powered by Sanford Health Plan, Great Plains Medicare Advantage, Medica, and UnitedHealthcare. The full carrier-by-carrier plan counts and plan types are listed in the tables on this page.

In short: Aetna (CVS Health) has 3 PPO plans; Align powered by Sanford Health Plan has 2 PPO plans; Great Plains Medicare Advantage has 2 HMO plans; Medica has 11 plans across Cost and PPO types, including 1 D-SNP; and UnitedHealthcare has 5 PPO plans, including 1 D-SNP. Again, no carrier offers every plan in every county.

How do I compare the Medicare Advantage plans in my own North Dakota county for 2027?

The most reliable way to compare the plans in your own county is to go plan by plan using the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, which filters the 2027 lineup to your ZIP code. A straightforward sequence works for most people:

1. Doctors and clinics. Make a list of the providers you want to keep — primary care, any specialists — and check each plan's provider directory to see whether they are in network. 2. Hospitals. Confirm the hospital or health system you'd use for planned or emergency care is included. 3. Prescriptions. Enter your drugs, exact doses, and quantities into Plan Finder. The tool shows how each plan covers each medication and estimates your yearly drug cost. 4. Pharmacies. Check that your preferred pharmacy — retail or mail order — is a network pharmacy for the plan. 5. Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). If you already have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, read the ANOC your plan mailed in September. It spells out what is changing for 2027. 6. Plan documents. For final answers on coverage rules, read the plan's Evidence of Coverage and Summary of Benefits.

This is also where you'll see whether a plan you considered last year is one of the 11 North Dakota plans not returning for 2027, or one of the 5 that are new.

What should I do before December 7, 2026, if I have Medicare in North Dakota?

Before December 7, 2026, confirm whether your current coverage still fits for 2027, and make a change through Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE if it doesn't. December 7, 2026 is the last day of Annual Enrollment 2027; a plan selected during the window starts January 1, 2027.

A practical checklist: read the ANOC from your current plan; list your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions; run them through the Plan Finder for your ZIP code; and, if your plan isn't returning for 2027, pick a replacement so you're not left on a plan that no longer exists. People who are satisfied with their current plan and see it is returning don't have to do anything — coverage renews automatically.

Where can North Dakotans get free help comparing Medicare Advantage plans for 2027?

Free, unbiased help with 2027 Medicare Advantage comparisons is available directly from Medicare at Medicare.gov and by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov is the official source for county-level plan availability, drug pricing estimates, and plan documents. For questions about Medicare eligibility and enrollment, the Social Security Administration handles sign-ups for Medicare Parts A and B.