Medicare Advantage

How Erie County Medicare Choices Compare With Neighbors in 2026

How Medicare Advantage plan availability in Erie County, Ohio compares with nearby counties for 2027, plus key dates and Part D rules.

SANDUSKY, Ohio — If you're sorting out Medicare coverage for 2027, it helps to know that what's available on your kitchen table isn't always the same as what a friend one county over is looking at. Sandusky sits in Erie County, and plan availability here is set at the county level — so a quick look across the metro can give you a clearer picture of how many choices are on the shelf near you.

What "plan availability" really means

Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is decided by CMS at the county level, not by ZIP code or city. That means every household in Erie County sees the same menu of plans, whether you live in downtown Sandusky, Huron, or out toward Milan. If you move across a county line — even a short drive — your options can shift.

For 2026, Erie County had 88 Medicare Advantage plans on offer from 12 different carriers. That's the pool Sandusky residents chose from. The 2027 lineup is laid out in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Around 17,683 people age 65 and older live in the county, so this is a decision a lot of neighbors are working through at the same time.

Why nearby counties may look different

Ohio's northern counties each have their own Medicare Advantage landscape. A neighboring county might have more carriers, fewer plans, or a different mix — even though the drive between them is short. If you split time between two homes, or you're helping a parent who lives in a different county, it's worth checking each county separately on Medicare's Plan Finder.

One quirk worth noting from the 2026 area data set we reviewed: there were no stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans listed for Erie County. That's unusual and worth confirming directly on medicare.gov for 2027 before you make any decisions, especially if you have Original Medicare and want drug coverage.

Star Ratings, in plain English

CMS gives Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts a Star Rating from 1 to 5 each year. The ratings look at things like customer service, member complaints, and how well the plan manages chronic conditions. They're a tool, not a verdict — a lower-rated plan might still fit one person well, and a higher-rated plan might not match another person's doctors or medications.

For 2026, the area data we reviewed showed no contracts rated 4 stars or higher in Erie County. Ratings can change year to year, so check the current stars on Plan Finder when you compare 2027 options.

Part D rules that apply everywhere

No matter which county you live in, some Medicare rules are the same nationwide. Here are the Part D figures for 2027:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). Once your covered drug spending hits that number, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can ask to spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Dates to circle

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. Join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in an MA plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.