Medicare Advantage

Sorting Through Aiken's 2027 Medicare Lineup: A Local Guide

Aiken retirees have a lot to sift through this fall. Aiken is in Aiken County, where 57 Medicare Advantage plans were available for 2026, according to CMS Medicare Plan Finder data. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. With more than 36,000 residents age 65 and older in the county, that's a wide field to compare — and knowing how to narrow it down matters more than the raw number itself.

This guide walks through what the local count looks like, what's changing in Medicare for 2027, and how to work through your choices without getting overwhelmed.

What the numbers look like in Aiken County

For 2026, Aiken County residents could choose from 57 Medicare Advantage plans across 10 carriers, based on the CMS Medicare Plan Finder. The 2027 plan lineup is described in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. There were no stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans listed at the county level for the 2026 cycle, which means most drug coverage in the area is bundled inside Medicare Advantage plans (MA-PD).

That's a lot of options on paper. In practice, plenty of them won't fit your doctors, your prescriptions, or your travel habits — and that's how the list shrinks fast.

Why 57 plans doesn't mean 57 real choices

The count reflects every plan offered in the county, but only some will match your situation. When people compare, they usually filter by:

• Whether their doctors and preferred hospitals are in the network
• Whether their specific prescriptions are on the plan's drug list
• Whether they need extra coverage for travel outside South Carolina
• Whether they'd rather have Original Medicare with a Medigap policy instead

Once you apply your own filters, the field of 57 often narrows to a handful worth a closer look.

What's changing in Medicare for 2027

A few program-wide updates affect everyone with Part D coverage — whether it's built into a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone drug plan:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that ceiling in a given year, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Maximum Part D deductible. The ceiling is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Plans can charge less, but not more.
• The "donut hole" is gone. Since 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. You can opt in to spread your drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges for higher-income beneficiaries start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

About Star Ratings in the Aiken area

CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on a 1-to-5 scale to reflect quality and member experience. In the Aiken County area for 2026, no contracts were rated 4 stars or higher. Ratings are one data point among many, and they can shift year to year — they're worth looking at, but they're not a substitute for checking whether a plan covers your doctors and drugs.

How to work through your options

A simple order of operations helps:

1. List what matters to you. Your doctors, your medications (with doses), your pharmacies, and whether you travel. 2. Use medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Enter your ZIP code and drug list; it will show your estimated yearly costs by plan. 3. Check networks directly. Call your doctor's office to confirm they accept a plan before you enroll. 4. Ask for help. South Carolina's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free, unbiased counseling. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Key dates to remember

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. This is when most people join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare during this window.