Medicare Advantage

DeSoto TX Medicare Plan Count 2027

DESOTO, Texas — If you're turning 65 in DeSoto, or reviewing your Medicare coverage this fall, you have a lot to sort through. DeSoto sits in Dallas County, where 93 Medicare Advantage plans were available for the 2026 plan year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Plan Finder and Landscape files. The 2027 lineup is described in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

That's a big menu. This guide walks through what those numbers mean, how to narrow the field, and where to get help you can trust.

What was on the table in Dallas County for 2026

Here's the lay of the land, straight from CMS data for the county DeSoto belongs to:

• 93 Medicare Advantage plans available countywide
• 12 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage (MA-PD)
• 0 stand-alone Part D drug plans shown in the county's local file (stand-alone Part D options are set at the regional level, so Texans still have access to stand-alone drug plans through the state's Part D region — check medicare.gov for your ZIP code)
• About 309,000 residents age 65+ live in Dallas County

Plan availability is set by CMS at the county level, so every DeSoto ZIP code draws from the same Dallas County pool.

Why 93 options isn't as scary as it sounds

Ninety-three plans looks overwhelming on paper. In practice, most people can rule out the majority in a few minutes once they know what to look for.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They bundle your Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) coverage, and most include Part D prescription drug coverage. Different plans use different doctor and hospital networks, cover different medications, and set their own rules for things like referrals and prior authorization.

You're not choosing between 93 equally good fits. You're looking for the handful that match your doctors, your prescriptions, and your pharmacy.

How to narrow the field

A calm, step-by-step approach works better than trying to compare everything at once:

1. List your doctors and hospitals. Which ones must be in-network? Parkland, Methodist, Baylor Scott & White, and Texas Health each contract with different insurers. 2. List your prescriptions. Include dosage and how often you take them. Plan drug lists (called formularies) vary a lot. 3. Pick your pharmacy. Some plans give better pricing at "preferred" pharmacies. 4. Decide on plan type. HMO plans usually require you to stay in-network and get referrals. PPO plans offer more flexibility, often at a higher cost. 5. Compare on medicare.gov. The official Plan Finder lets you enter your drugs and ZIP code and see side-by-side estimates for each plan.

Program figures worth knowing

Some rules apply to everyone on Medicare, no matter which plan you choose:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your drug spending hits that amount in a given year, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of that year.
• Part D deductible maximum: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Plans can set a lower deductible, but not higher.
• No more "donut hole." As of 2025, the coverage gap was eliminated. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. You can choose to spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the year in monthly installments, instead of paying big bills all at once. It's optional and free to sign up.
• IRMAA. Higher-income enrollees pay extra for Part B and Part D. In 2026, the surcharge starts above $109,000 for single filers (higher for joint filers).

Key dates for DeSoto residents

• October 15 – December 7, 2026: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). This is when most people compare and switch plans for 2027 coverage that begins January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

Outside those windows, you generally need a Special Enrollment Period — for example, if you move or lose other coverage.

A word on Star Ratings

CMS rates Medicare contracts on a 1-to-5 scale based on things like customer service, member complaints, and preventive care. In the Dallas County landscape file, no contracts serving the area were listed at 4 stars or higher for 2026. Star Ratings are one data point — they don't replace checking whether a plan covers your doctors and drugs.