Medicare Advantage

11 New Medicare Advantage Plans in South Dakota for 2027: The List

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakotans comparing Medicare coverage for next year will see 11 Medicare Advantage plans on the shelf that were not offered for 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Landscape Source Files for CY2026 and CY2027. The newcomers come from three carriers and sit alongside returning plans for a 2027 statewide total of 28 Medicare Advantage options.

Because Medicare Advantage is sold county by county, a plan listed as new statewide may or may not appear on the menu where you live. The place to confirm is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov using your ZIP code.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are new in South Dakota for 2027, and which carriers offer them?

Eleven of the 28 Medicare Advantage plans offered to South Dakotans for 2027 are new, meaning they were not on the 2026 Landscape. Three carriers are responsible for the additions: Aetna (CVS Health) with 3 new plans, Align powered by Sanford Health Plan with 2 new plans, and Medica with 6 new plans.

That mix matters because each carrier runs its own provider network, pharmacy arrangements and plan design. A "new" plan from one carrier is not the same product as a "new" plan from another, even when the plan type looks similar on paper. The full list of new plans is rendered as a table on this page.

Which new Medicare Advantage plans in South Dakota for 2027 reach the most counties?

Within each carrier's set of new plans for 2027, the widest county reach belongs to Align SecureChoice (PPO) and Align SecureChoice Gold (PPO), each offered in 19 South Dakota counties. From Medica, the Medica Advantage Essential (PPO), Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO) and Medica Advantage Select (PPO) each appear in up to 15 counties, with additional versions of those same plan names reaching 12 counties. From Aetna (CVS Health), the Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO), Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) and Aetna Medicare Full Dual (PPO D-SNP) are each offered in 10 counties.

County reach tells you where a plan is sold. It does not tell you anything about cost, benefits or quality — those have to be looked up plan by plan on medicare.gov.

What does it mean when a Medicare Advantage plan is "new" in South Dakota for 2027?

A plan labeled "new for 2027" is one that CMS did not list in the 2026 Landscape, so it has no prior year of South Dakota enrollment data to point to. By CMS rule, a plan without three consecutive years of operating data does not receive a Medicare Star Rating in its first years. That is a statement of fact about how the Star program works, not a judgment on the plan.

Practically, a new plan still files a full Evidence of Coverage, a Summary of Benefits, a provider directory and a formulary (drug list) with CMS. Those documents are the authoritative source for what the plan actually covers.

How do I check whether a new 2027 plan is offered in my South Dakota county and covers my doctors and prescriptions?

Go to medicare.gov, open the Plan Finder, and enter your ZIP code (and county if asked). The tool will show only the Medicare Advantage plans available at your address for 2027. If one of the 11 new plans is not listed for your ZIP code, it is not sold in your county.

For any plan that does appear, do three checks before you decide:

• Enter each prescription drug exactly as written on the bottle, including dose, to see how the plan's formulary handles it.
• Search the plan's provider directory for each doctor, clinic and hospital you want to keep, and call the office to confirm they will accept that specific plan in 2027.
• Read the Summary of Benefits for the plan year 2027, not an older version.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to walk through the same information with a representative.

What should South Dakotans do before December 7, 2026?

The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any Medicare Advantage or Part D choice you make in that window takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing and your current plan is still being offered, you generally stay in it for 2027 with whatever changes the carrier filed for next year — which is why the Annual Notice of Change your plan mailed in September is worth re-reading.

Before December 7, 2026, it is reasonable to:

• Compare your current plan's 2027 version against alternatives on the Plan Finder, including, where available, the new plans from Aetna (CVS Health), Align powered by Sanford Health Plan and Medica.
• Confirm your doctors, hospitals and pharmacies for 2027, not 2026.
• Save or print the plan documents for whatever you choose.

There is also a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, 2027, which lets someone already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan make one change.

Where can South Dakotans get free, unbiased help with Medicare for 2027?

Free help with 2027 Medicare questions is available directly from Medicare at medicare.gov and by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), around the clock. The Plan Finder on medicare.gov is the official tool for comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans by ZIP code, and it is updated with the 2027 plan year data for the Annual Enrollment Period.

For Social Security questions tied to Medicare — enrollment in Part A and Part B, premium billing, or applying for Extra Help with drug costs — contact the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213.