Medicare Advantage

Chester's 2027 Medicare Snapshot: Plans Nearby

How many Medicare Advantage and Part D options are available near Chester, PA for 2027? Plan counts, carriers, and key dates for AEP.

CHESTER, Pa. — If you live in Chester and are getting ready to choose 2027 Medicare coverage, you may be wondering how the plan landscape looks not just here, but across the wider metro area. Availability can shift from one county to the next, and knowing what's offered nearby can help you understand your choices before the Annual Enrollment Period closes on December 7.

Chester sits in Delaware County, and Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level. That means every Chester resident shares the same menu of plans as their neighbors across Delaware County — and that menu looks different from the ones in Philadelphia, Montgomery, or Chester County next door.

What's available in Delaware County

According to CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape data, Delaware County had 100 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2026, offered by 15 different carriers. The 2027 lineup is described in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

Because Medicare doesn't set plan availability by city, someone in Chester, Upper Darby, or Media is looking at the same list. What differs are the doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies each plan includes in its network — so two neighbors on the same plan can still have very different experiences depending on where they get care.

How nearby counties compare

Plan counts change as you cross county lines. A resident in Philadelphia County sees one menu; someone in Montgomery, Bucks, or Chester County sees another. Carriers decide each year which counties they'll serve, so a plan available in Delaware County may not be sold a few miles away — and vice versa.

This matters most for people who split time between homes, are thinking about moving, or use doctors across county lines. If you're weighing a plan, check that it's offered where you actually live, and confirm the providers you use are in-network at that address.

Star Ratings in the area

CMS publishes Star Ratings each year to help people compare quality across contracts. Ratings can and do change year to year, so it's worth checking the current numbers on Medicare's Plan Finder before you enroll.

Star Ratings are a helpful reference point, but they're one factor among many — network, drug coverage, and extra benefits all matter too.

Part D changes that apply everywhere

No matter which county you live in, Part D drug coverage in 2027 follows the same national rules:

• The out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs is $2,100. Once you hit it, you pay $0 for covered prescriptions the rest of the year.
• The maximum Part D deductible any plan can charge is $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly installments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to join.

Higher-income beneficiaries should also know that IRMAA surcharges — extra amounts added to Part B and Part D premiums — begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Dates to circle

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. This is when most people join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to change to a different one or go back to Original Medicare.

Where to get personal help

Plan counts and program rules are the easy part. The harder part is figuring out which plan actually fits your doctors, medications, and budget — and that's where free, unbiased help comes in.

• Medicare.gov has the official Plan Finder tool, where you can enter your ZIP code and drug list.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24/7.
• Pennsylvania's SHIP program, called APPRISE, offers free one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers. You can reach APPRISE at 1-800-783-7067.